Rushed through: judicial nods for non-vacant jobs

A cabinet decision last month was the first time a government had ever nominated two candidates to replace Circuit Court judges who are still sitting

Sinn Féin justice spokesman Jonathan O’Brien

The government has come under fire for rushing through two judicial nominations to non-existent vacancies without specifically advertising them.

It took the unprecedented step of naming a former Fine Gael town councillor from Mayo and a Dublin-based barrister to replace two serving Circuit Court judges, who are not due to retire for up to four months.

But despite the official urgency to make the nominations, there were no advertisements placed to alert barristers ...