Curtin v Dáil Éireann
| Jurisdiction | Ireland |
| Court | Supreme Court |
| Judge | Murray C.J. |
| Judgment Date | 09 March 2006 |
| Neutral Citation | [2006] IESC 14 |
| Docket Number | [S.C. Nos. |
| Date | 09 March 2006 |
[2006] IESC 14
THE SUPREME COURT
Murray C.J.
Denham J.
McGuinness J.
Hardiman J.
Geoghegan J.
Fennelly J.
McCracken J.
BETWEEN:
and
CONSTITUTION ART 35.4.1
CHILD TRAFFICKING & PORNOGRAPHY ACT 1998 S6
CHILD TRAFFICKING & PORNOGRAPHY ACT 1998 S7(2)
INTERPRETATION ACT 1937 S11
DPP v KENNY 1990 2 IR 110
THE COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT 1924 S39
CHILD TRAFFICKING & PORNOGRAPHY ACT 1998 S7
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES & IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) (AMENDMENT) ACT 2004
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES & IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S3(4)
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES & IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S3(1)
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES & IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S3A
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES & IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S3A(a)
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES & IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S3A(b
CHILD TRAFFICKING & PORNOGRAPHY (AMDT) ACT 2004 S1
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES & IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S3
STANDING ORDERS OF DAIL EIREANN ORDER 63A
STANDING ORDERS OF DAIL EIREANN ORDER 63A(2)
STANDING ORDERS OF DAIL EIREANN ORDER 60A
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S3(1)(c)
CONSTITUTION ART 35.2
CONSTITUTION SAORSTAT EIREANN 1922 ART 68
ACT OF SETTLEMENT 1701
CONSTITUTION ART 12.10
CURTIN v DAIL EIREANN & ORS UNREP HIGH COURT SMYTH 3.5.2005
DPP v O'SHEA 1982 IR 384
TORMEY v IRELAND 1985 IR 289 1985 ILRM 375
RIORDAN v TANAISTE 1997 3 IR 502 1998 1 ILRM 494
SINNOTT v MIN FOR EDUCATION & ORS 2001 2 IR 545
DPP v S(M) 2003 1 IR 606
CONSTITUTION SAORSTAT EIREANN 1922 ART 73
CONSTITUTION ART 50
MELLING v MACMATHGHAMHNA 1962 IR 1
MAGUIRE & ORS v ARDAGH & ORS (OIREACHTAS JOINT COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE) [ABBEYLARA CASE] 2002 1 IR 385
MOONEY v AN POST 1998 4 IR 288 1994 ELR 103
NIXON v UNITED STATES 1993 506 US 224 1993 122 LED 3DL 1993 113 SCT 732
CONSTITUTION ART 15.10
O'BYRNE v MIN FOR FINANCE 1959 IR 1
GOODMAN INTERNATIONAL v HAMILTON & ORS 1992 2 IR 542
CONSTITUTION ART 35
CONSTITUTION ART 15.4
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S4(1)
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S11(1)
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S6
CONSTITUTION ART 40.5
CONSTITUTION ART 40.3
AG, PEOPLE v O'BRIEN 1965 IR 142
TRIMBOLE v GOVERNOR OF MOUNTJOY PRISON 1985 ILRM 465 1985 IR 550
OFFENCES AGAINST THE STATE ACT 1939 S30
BULA LTD v TARA MINES LTD 1994 1 ILRM 111
CHILD TRAFFICKING & PORNOGRAPHY (AMDT) ACT 2004 S13
DPP v KENNY 1990 2 IR 110 1990 ILRM 569
LYNCH v AG 2004 1 ILRM 129
DPP v COONEY 1997 IR 129 1998 1 ILRM 321
DPP v BUCK 2002 2 IR 268 2002 2 ILRM 454
CONSTITUTION SAORSTAT EIREANN 1922 ART 68
THE COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT 1924 S39
COURTS (SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS) ACT 1961 S48
CONSTITUTION ART 42.4
STATE (HEALY) v DONOGHUE 1976 IR 325
CONSTITUTION ART 15.11.1
COMMISSIONS & SALARIES OF JUDGES ACT 1760 1 GEO 3 C23
COURTS ACT 1781-82 21 & 22 GEO 3 C50 S3
STATUTE LAW REVISION (PRE-UNION IRISH STATUTES) ACT 1962
SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE (IRL) ACT 1877 (40 & 42 VICT C57)
SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE ACT 1875 (38 & 39 VICT C77)
CONSTITUTION ACT 1867 S99 (CANADA) (BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT 1867 30 VICT C3 S99)
CONSTITUTION OF AUSTRALIA (1900) C3 S72
SOUTH AFRICA ACT 1909 (9 EDW 7 C9)
CONSTITUTION SAORSTAT EIREANN 1922 ART 35.4.1
WILLIAMS THE HISTORICAL & CONSTITUTIONAL BASES OF THE SENATE'S POWER TO USE MASTERS OR COMMITTEES TO RECEIVE EVIDENCE IN IMPEACHMENT TRIALS 1975 50 NYU LAW REVIEW 512
CONSTITUTION ART 6
CONSTITUTION ART 34.1
CONSTITUTION ART 34.3.2
CONSTITUTION ART 26
CONSTITUTION ART 34
CONSTITUTION ART 35.3
BUCKLEY v AG 1950 IR 67
D (T) & ORS v MIN FOR EDUCATION & ORS 2001 4 IR 259
PIGS MARKETING BOARD v DONNELLY 1939 IR 413
MCDONALD v BORD NA GCON 1965 IR 217
EAST DONEGAL CO-OPERATIVE v AG 1970 IR 317
KAVANAGH v IRELAND 1996 1 IR 321 1996 1 ILRM 133
CONSTITUTION ART 15.10
O'MALLEY v CEANN COMHAIRLE 1997 1 IR 427
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES ART 1 S5
UNITED STATES v BALLIN 1892 144 US 1 12 SCT 507
CONSTITUTION ART 15.11
STANDING ORDERS OF DAIL EIREANN ORDER 63A PARA 5
HAUGHEY, IN RE 1971 IR 217
STANDING ORDERS OF DAIL EIREANN ORDER 63A PARA 8
STANDING ORDERS OF DAIL EIREANN ORDER 63A PARA 9
SAUNDERS v UNITED KINGDOM 1997 23 EHRR 313
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 6
SCHMERBER v CALIFORNIA 1966 384 US 757
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS (COMPELLABILITY, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES OF WITNESSES) ACT 1997 S6(2)
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW:
Judiciary
Removal from office - Resolution of Oireachtas - Judicial independence - Separation of powers - Deference by courts to another organ of State - Standard which court measured failure by organ of State to comply with constitutional obligations - Judge as witness to Oireachtas committee - Statutory power to call judge as witness to Oireachtas committee - Constitutional interpretation - Presumption of constitutionality - Parliamentary procedures - Whether statute unconstitutional - Whether parliamentary procedures presumed to be constitutional - Whether Oireachtas had power to call judge as witness - Whether power to call judge as witness constitutional - Whether resort may be had to principles derived from other parts of Constitution for constitutional interpretation - Resolution for removal of judge - Fair procedures - Form of report of committee - Direction from committee - Privilege against self incrimination - Possession - Whether Oireachtas could adopt standing orders to establish sub-committee to receive evidence - Whether committee could direct production of prima facie unlawful material - Whether direction constitutional - Whether direction violated privilege against self incrimination - Whether âÇÿthing' under privilege against self incrimination - People v O'Shea [1982] IR 384; Sinnott v Minister for Education [2001]2 IR 545; State (Healy) v Donoghue [1976] IR 325; Goodman International v Mr Justice Hamilton [1992] 2 IR 542; Buckley and others (Sinn Féin) v AG [1950] IR 67; TD v Minister for Education [2001] 4 IR 259; East Donegal Co-Operative Livestock Mart Ltd v AG [1970] IR 317; McDonald v Bord na gCon [1965] IR 217 and Pigs Marketing Board v Donnelly (Dublin) Ltd [1939] IR 413 considered - Maguire v Ardagh [2002] 1 IR 385 distinguished - Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) (Amendment) Act 2004 (No 16) - Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) Act 1997 (No 17), s 3A - Constitution of Ireland 1937 , Articles 15.10 and 35.4.1 - Relief refused (198 & 203/2005 - SC - 9/3/2006)[2006] IESC 14, [2006] 2 IR 556; [2006] 2 ILRM 99 Curtin v Clerk of Dáil Éireann
The court was asked to interpret the provisions of Article 35.4.1 of the Constitution regarding the parliamentary procedure for the removal of judges from office.
Held by the Supreme Court (Murray CJ; Denham; McGuinness; Hardiman; Fennelly and McCrackenJJ) that the appeal would be allowed and the order of the High Court affirmed.
Reporter: R.W.
1. Introduction 1
2. Facts: Prosecution and Acquittal 1
3. Initiation of steps for removal: correspondence 3
4. Legislative Changes 7
5. Proceedings in the Oireachtas 9
6. Proceedings of the Joint Committee 14
7. Leave to Apply for Judicial Review 18
8. High Court proceedings 20
9. The High Court Judgment 21
10. The Appeal: the Appellant's case 23
11. Constitutionality of section 3A: submissions 25
12. Direction by Committee: Section 3 1997 Act: submissions 26
13. Article 35.4 of the Constitution 31
14. General principles of constitutional interpretation 34
15. History 38
16. Consideration of Article 35.4.1 45
17. Judicial Independence 45
18. Separation of powers 49
19. Constitutional justice; Fair procedures 58
20. Constitutionality of section 3A of 1997 Act 59
21. Conclusion on interpretation of Article 35.4.1 61
22. Conclusion on section 3 order 72
23. Double jeopardy 79
24. Conclusion 80
In this appeal, the Court is asked to interpret the provisions of Article 35.4.1 of the Constitution regarding the parliamentary procedure for the removal of judges from office. It is one of the few occasions in the annals of legal history that such a proposal has been considered by a court and the first time since the foundation of the State.
The Appellant was appointed as a judge of the Circuit Court in November 2001.
On 20th May 2002, the President of the District Court issued a warrant for the search of the Appellant's dwelling house. The warrant recited the information on oath of a Sergeant of An...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
Iqbal and Others v Minister for Justice
...- Standard for judicial intervention in other organs of state - TD v Minister for Education [2002] 4 IR 259 and Curtin v Dáil Éireann [2006] IESC 14 [2006] 2 IR 556 followed - Council Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant and Surrender Procedures 2002/584/JHA - European Arrest ......
-
M.R v T.R, Anthony Walsh, David Walsh and Sims Clinic Ltd
...for Agriculture [2001] 2 IR 139; Campaign to Separate Church and State v Minister for Education [1998] 3 IR 321; Curtin v Dáil Éireann [2006] IESC 14, [2006] 2 IR 556; [2006] 2 ILRM 99; PJ Carroll & Co Ltd v Minister for Health and Children [2005] IESC 26, [2005] 1 IR 294; AG (SPUC) v Op......
-
Min for Justice v Tobin
...(Case C-296/08 PPU) [2008] ECR I-6307; Criminal Proceedings against Maria Pupino (Case C-105/03) [2005] ECR I-5285; Curtin v Dáil Éireann [2006] IESC 14, [2006] 2 IR 556; Dorene Ltd v Suedes (Ireland) Ltd [1981] IR 312; Gairy v A-G of Grenada [2002] 1 AC 167; [2001] 3 W.L.R. 779; Green v Un......
-
Re Bovale Dev: Director of Corporate Enforcement v Bailey
...MCG (P) v F (A) UNREP BUDD 28.1.2000 1999/17/5283 KENNEDY v LAW SOCIETY OF IRELAND & ORS 2002 2 IR 458 CURTIN v DAIL EIREANN & ORS 2006 2 IR 556 TRIBUNALS OF ENQUIRY (EVIDENCE) (AMDT) ACT 1979 COUNTYGLEN PLC v CARWAY 1998 2 IR 540 1996 2 508 COMCAST INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC & ORS v MIN......
-
Ireland: Curtailment of the right to silence through statutory adverse inferences
...[2016] IESC 71, [103].62. Schedule 1 to the Criminal Justice Act 2011.63. Criminal Justice Act 2011, s 15(10).64. McGrath (n 8) 883.65. [2006] 2 IR 556; [2006] IESC 14.66. Schmerber v California (1966) 384 US 757.67. Saunders v United Kingdom (1996) 23 EHRR 313. The Court did not refer to a......
-
The Definition of Judicial Misconduct in the Judicial Council Act 2019
...Kelly: The Irish Constitution (5th edn, Bloomsbury Professional 2018) para 6.4.51. 14 This seems likely in light of Curtin v Dáil Eireann [2006] IESC 14 (referenced below) which notes that ‘the Appellant’s complaint is necessarily narrowed down to an issue of whether he can show that the pr......
-
Political questions' and judicial review in ireland
...2 I.R. 468. 39 [2003] I.E.H.C. 64; [2003] 2 I.R. 468, at 515. 40 Horgan v. An Taoiseach [2003] I.E.H.C. 64; [2003] 2 I.R. 468. 41 [2006] I.E.S.C. 14; [2006] 2 I.R. 556. 42 [2006] I.E.S.C. 14, at paras. 70-71; [2006] 2 I.R. 556, at 609. Article 35.4.1° of the Constitution provides for the re......