Legal

Jim O’Callaghan: ‘Beneficial’ to send controversial judicial appointments bill to Supreme Court

If uncertainty around the bill is not removed now the ‘probable likelihood’ is that the legislation will be challenged in the courts subsequently

Jim O’Callaghan, the Fianna Fáil TD, said he believed it was important that uncertainty around the bill was removed.Picture: Collins

There would be a “benefit” in President Michael D Higgins referring the controversial Judicial Appointments Commission Bill to the Supreme Court, Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman has said.

The president on Wednesday convened a meeting of the Council of State on the bill which seeks to amend how judges are appointed to the Supreme Court.

A provision in the bill which would restrict the government to a list of three candidates provided to it by a ...