George Birmingham
| The Hon. Mr. Justice George Birmingham | |
|---|---|
| President of the Court of Appeal | |
|
Assumed office April 2018 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Preceded by | Seán Ryan |
| Judge of the Court of Appeal | |
|
Assumed office 24 October 2014 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Judge of the High Court | |
|
In office 3 May 2007 – 24 October 2014 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| Minister of State for European Affairs | |
|
In office 13 February 1986 – 21 January 1987 | |
| Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Minister of State for Youth Affairs | |
|
In office 16 December 1982 – 13 February 1986 | |
| Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Enda Kenny |
| Teachta Dála | |
|
In office June 1981 – June 1989 | |
| Constituency | Dublin North-Central |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Martin Birmingham 3 August 1954 Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Alma mater | |
George Martin Birmingham (born 3 August 1954) is an Irish judge, politician and barrister who has served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal since October 2014. He previously served as a Judge of the High Court from 2007 to 2014, Minister of State for European Affairs from 1986 to 1987 and Minister of State for Youth Affairs from 1982 to 1986. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North-Central constituency from 1981 to 1989.[1]
Early life
George Birmingham was born in Dublin in 1954. He was educated at St. Paul's College, Trinity College, Dublin and King's Inns where he qualified as a barrister.
Political career
He first became involved in politics in 1979 when he became a member of Dublin City Council. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election as Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North-Central constituency.[2] Between 1982 and 1986 he served as a Minister of State under Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald at the Departments of Education, Labour and Foreign Affairs. The party lost power in 1987 and Birmingham lost his Dáil seat at the 1989 general election.
Legal career
Between 1989 and 2007 he worked as a barrister, becoming a Senior Counsel in 1999. On 3 May 2007, it was announced that he had been selected to become a High Court judge. In October 2014, he became a judge of the Court of Appeal.[3]
Birmingham was the sole member of the Commission of Investigation into the Dean Lyons case.[4]
President of Court of Appeal
On 24 April 2018, the Government decided to nominate Birmingham as President of the Court of Appeal, the second highest judicial post in the State.[5] The nomination was immediately the subject of controversy.[6][7] It was insinuated that it was a political appointment given that Birmngham had served eight years as a Fine Gael TD in the 1980s and was a Minister of State for five years.[8]
References
- ↑ "Mr. George Birmingham". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ↑ "George Birmingham". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ↑ "Appointments to the Court of Appeal". Department of the Taoiseach. 29 October 2014.
- ↑ "Dean Lyons Commission of Investigation". Department of Justice and Law Reform. Archived from the original on 20 December 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ↑ "George Birmingham named president of Court of Appeal". The Irish Times. 24 April 2018.
- ↑ "Government row erupts over top judicial appointment". The Irish Times. 25 April 2018.
- ↑ "Judicial tensions flare up again". The Irish Times. 25 April 2018.
- ↑ "Former Fine Gael TD named President of the Court of Appeal". The Irish Times. 24 April 2018.