Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy announced tribunal reform plans, speaking on the resumption of the Senate this morning.

Sen Fahy said that he envisages this as a pilot project focusing on tribunals under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with the “hope” that it would expanded to other ministries.

He said the appointment of a full-time adjudicator or unified tribunal system will “streamline, consolidate and rationalise the plethora of statutory tribunals, rights of appeals and boards of inquiry, which have arisen over many decades of legislative activity”.

He added that cost considerations have also been taken into account. “The need for action is even stronger given our present economic climate and the post-SAGE reality we live in,” he said. “We simply have to find a way to do more with less.”

• For the full ministerial statement, click on the PDF file under “Related Media”.