Election of judge in respect of Ireland at the European Court of Human Rights

Election of judge in respect of Ireland at the European Court of Human Rights

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D., has congratulated Dr. Ann Power SC on her election yesterday by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights. Minister Ahern said "Ireland attaches the highest importance to the work of the Council of Europe in the area of human rights and strongly supports the effective functioning of the European Court of Human Rights." The Minister continued, " I am delighted that Dr. Power has been elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and have no doubt that she will perform her functions as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights with the highest degree of professionalism."

Note for Editors:

The previous Irish judge in respect of Ireland at the European Court of Human Rights, Mr. Justice John Hedigan, resigned last February to take up a position as a judge of the High Court in Ireland.

The Government were asked by the Council of Europe, in accordance with its normal practice, to submit a list of three candidates from which its Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) would elect a replacement judge in respect of Ireland.

On 22 January 2008 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe elected Dr Ann Power SC from the list of three candidates nominated. The other two candidates were Mr. David Keane BL and Mr. Roger Sweetman SC.

Judges were also elected in respect of Bulgaria, Latvia, Moldova and Turkey. Further information on the election is available on the Council of Europe website: www.coe.int.

++ENDS

Press Office

23^{rd January 2008}