Judges’ pay - Shame on greedy few

The Constitution stipulates that the remuneration of judges “may not be diminished during their continuance in office”.

This was introduced to ensure the independence of the judiciary by preventing political victimisation in retaliation for any judicial decision.

The judges behind the 12-page memorandum put on the courts service website last week do not question whether judges’ pay should be reduced, but rather, how the reductions should be achieved.

After the passing of the Pension Levy Act in 2010, Mr Justice Murray, the chief justice, consulted the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners to find a voluntary way for the judiciary to contribute an equivalent amount of the pension levy. Arrangements were made, and — in lieu of the levy — 85% of the judges have been willingly paying 10% of their salaries to the Revenue Commissioners.

The behaviour is commendable, but not that of the 15% who have held out. In the circumstances, the judiciary should not be questioning the behaviour of politicians but laying the blame fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the greedy few in their midst.