Political Reporter
Former High Court and Court of Appeal judge Michael Peart will chair the review of the Special Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court was set up in 1972 during the Troubles and hears cases involving terrorism and organised crime.
Governments have argued that it is necessary to combat intimidation of jurors.
The legislation underpinning the court is renewed every year in the Oireachtas.
Sinn Féin has always criticised the Special Criminal Court and has opposed the renewal of the legislation.
Last June, then justice minister Charlie Flanagan told the Dáil that the Department of Justice was undertaking a scoping exercise in order to bring forward proposals to review the legislation.
A review on the process that led to the opening of a Kerry direct provision centre is still awaited, six months after its expected completion date.
Former Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan ordered a review in early June, following the controversy surrounding the opening of the Skellig Star Accommodation Centre in Cahersiveen.
Then-Minister Charlie Flanagan asked the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality to review the department’s actions on direct provision during the early stages of the pandemic.
This includes, in particular, reference to the opening of centres such as the one in Cahersiveen.
The report was expected to be finalised in August and submitted to Minister Helen McEntee for consideration.
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Flanagan told Chief Justice in February that Supreme Court vacancy was a matter for the next government
Correspondence relating to the matter has been released under a Freedom of Information request. By Gráinne Ní Aodha Thursday 17 Dec 2020, 1:06 PM Dec 17th 2020, 1:06 PM 12,231 Views 1 Comment
Image: Leah Farrell
Image: Leah Farrell
THE JUSTICE MINISTER had advised Chief Justice Frank Clarke in February that the task of filling the vacancy at Supreme Court was a matter for the next government.
Correspondence released to
TheJournal.ie under a Freedom of Information request shows that several Justice Department officials concluded that the judicial appointment was a matter for the next government, and expressed surprise at the timing of Clarke’s request.