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32 1953

COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT, 1953

PART II.

Remuneration, Expenses and Pensions.

Increase of remuneration of judges and of justices.

4. —The remuneration of judges and of justices shall, with effect from the 1st day of April, 1953, be increased—

(a) in the case of judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court and the President of the Circuit Court, by two hundred and fifty pounds per annum, and

(b) in the case of judges of the Circuit Court (other than the President) and of justices, by four hundred and fifty pounds per annum.

Expenses of judges, etc.

5. —(1) In addition to remuneration, a judge of the Supreme Court, the High Court or the Circuit Court or a justice or a Commissioner of the High Court on Circuit may be allowed, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, such sums as the Minister, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, thinks reasonable for the purpose of defraying travelling and other expenses of such judge, justice or Commissioner.

(2) Provision for expenses under this section may be made—

(a) by means of allowances in respect of particular expenses, calculated in accordance with such scales and subject to such conditions as the Minister, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, may from time to time determine; or

(b) by means of periodical allowances of such amounts and payable at such times and in such manner as the Minister, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, may from time to time determine; or

(c) where, in the opinion of the Minister and of the Minister for Finance, provision under subparagraph (a) or subparagraph (b) of this subsection is not appropriate, by such other method as the Minister, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, may from time to time determine.

Pensions of judges of Supreme Court and High Court.

6. —(1) In this section “service” means service as a judge of the Supreme Court, the High Court or the Circuit Court.

(2) There shall be granted to a judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court who, having reached the age of sixty-five years, retires after fifteen years' service or upwards a pension for life of two-thirds of his remuneration at the time of his retirement.

(3) There shall be granted to each judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court who, owing to age or permanent infirmity, ceases to hold office after five years' service or upwards a pension for life of one-sixth of his remuneration at the time of vacation of office with the addition of one-twentieth of such remuneration for every completed year of service in excess of five, subject to a maximum pension of two-thirds of such remuneration.

(4) This section does not apply to a person holding office as a judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court on the passing of this Act.

(5) Section 8 of the Act of 1936 applies to a pension granted under this section.

Pensions of judges of Circuit Court.

7. —(1) In this section “service” means service as a judge of the Circuit Court or as a justice.

(2) There shall be granted to each judge of the Circuit Court who, having reached the age of sixty-five years, retires after fifteen years' service or upwards a pension for life of two-thirds of his remuneration at the time of his retirement.

(3) There shall be granted to each judge of the Circuit Court who, owing to age or permanent infirmity, ceases to hold office after five years' service or upwards a pension for life of one-sixth of his remuneration at the time of vacation of office with the addition of one-twentieth of such remuneration for every completed year of service in excess of five, subject to a maximum pension of two-thirds of such remuneration.

(4) This section does not apply to a person holding office as a judge of the Circuit Court on the passing of this Act.

(5) Section 17 of the Act of 1936 applies to a pension granted under this section.

Pensions of justices.

8. —(1) There shall be granted to a justice who, having reached the age of sixty-five years, retires after twenty years' service or upwards a pension for life of two-thirds of his remuneration at the time of his retirement.

(2) There shall be granted to each justice who, owing to age or permanent infirmity, ceases to hold office after five years' service or upwards a pension for life of one-sixth of his remuneration at the time of vacation of office with the addition of one-thirtieth of such remuneration for every completed year of service in excess of five, subject to a maximum pension of two-thirds of such remuneration.

(3) This section shall not apply to a person holding office as a justice on the passing of this Act unless he so elects by notice in writing given to the Minister for Finance within three months after such passing. In that event, the provisions of the Acts in relation to pensions of justices shall no longer apply to him.

(4) Subsection (5) of section 48 of the Act of 1936 shall apply to a pension granted under this section or under section 19 of the Act of 1946.

Charge of remuneration and pensions on Central Fund.

9. —The remuneration and pension payable to every judge and justice under or by virtue of the Acts or this Act shall be charged on and be payable out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.

Restriction of existing pension provisions.

10. —The provisions of the Acts in relation to pensions of judges and justices shall not apply to any judge or justice appointed after the passing of this Act.