Irish judges

[robert151410]

I love this country. The judges are such an important part of the legal process that their salaries cannot be subject to the levy, without their consent.

Simply to levy them would be seen as interference with the judiciary. It is an extraordinary situation and quite hilarious too.

[Silvio Dante]

In truth no Public Servant should be liable for the descriminatory paycut so if they can continue to avoid it, more power to them...

[Arcadius]

Article 35.5 of the constitution specifically forbids lowering the pay of a judge.
It's a general principle that's vital to their political independence, but in this specific case it's causing an irritating exception to the pension levy.

There have been plenty of other threads debating the pros and cons of the pension levy in general.

[Seán Mac Stiofán]

In truth no Public Servant should be liable for the descriminatory paycut

Why not? Private sector workers are receiving pay cuts all the time? What's so special about the public sector?

[Silvio Dante]

Why not? Private sector workers are receiving pay cuts all the time? What's so special about the public sector?

The Pension Levy paycut tsrgetted PS workers only and by definition was descriminatory. Go Judges...!

[SamVimesBoots]

The Pension Levy paycut tsrgetted PS workers only and by definition was descriminatory. Go Judges...!

Only because this useless Goobermunt didn't have the balls to re-benchmark yer arses and take away the undeserved payrises ye extorted out of that corrupt gimp Ahern.

I agree the "pension levy" is a load of crap, but for very different reasons than you do!

[Silvio Dante]

Only because this useless Goobermunt didn't have the balls to re-benchmark yer arses and take away the undeserved payrises ye extorted out of that corrupt gimp Ahern.

I agree the "pension levy" is a load of crap, but for very different reasons than you do!

So we have some grounds of agreement...

[Seán Mac Stiofán]

The Pension Levy paycut tsrgetted PS workers only and by definition was descriminatory. Go Judges...!

I suppose I could argue that the whole Partnership Agreements and Benchmarking was discriminatory against private sector workers. Don't worry: you'll get what's coming to you and no I don't mean an unjustified, no-strings pay rise.

[Silvio Dante]

I suppose I could argue that the whole Partnership Agreements and Benchmarking was discriminatory against private sector workers. Don't worry: you'll get what's coming to you and no I don't mean an unjustified, no-strings pay rise.

I never got a brass farthing out of benchmarking... We're still awaiting the Govt to honour the increases in T2016 nevermind even contemplating any paycuts...!

[Lefournier]

Article 35.5 of the constitution specifically forbids lowering the pay of a judge.
It's a general principle that's vital to their political independence, but in this specific case it's causing an irritating exception to the pension levy.

There have been plenty of other threads debating the pros and cons of the pension levy in general.

Yeah - and plenty of threads which make clear that you're wrong: judges are subject to normal deductions from their pay.

Take this letter from Professor Gwynn Morgan:
Irish Examiner - 2009/03/07: Government can subject judges’ salaries to the same levy that applies to public sector workers

As he says:

Sadly, some of the biggest untruths are prefaced by the formula: “Unfortunately the constitution prevents us from… ”