Dail clashes expected over impeachment rules

The Government and opposition parties will clash in the Dail today over plans for a referendum on judicial accountability.

Opposition parties have criticised the move to extend to judges of the District Court the constitutional protection only enjoyed now by superior court judges.

They also say impeachment proceedings will become harder to deal with.

In about five weeks time the Government is putting a referendum to the people to refine the powers of impeachment.

The constitution will show that a judge can be impeached with a two-thirds majority in the Dail.

But opposition parties have pointed out that at the moment a simple majority is enough in the Dail to impeach a judge.

Heated rows are expected when the committee stage of the legislation gets underway.