At its meeting earlier this week, the Government agreed to nominate for reappointment Judge Eugene Regan as a judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The terms of office of 14 judges of the EU Court of Justice will end on 6 October 2021, including the term of office of the current judge nominated by Ireland, Judge Eugene Regan.

Judge Regan was elected President of a Chamber after three years’ service in Luxembourg —  a unique distinction which no previous Irish judge had achieved. 

As set out in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), judges of the European Court of Justice are appointed by common accord of the governments of member states for a six-year term, and retiring judges are eligible for re-appointment. 

Domestic process

Member states are free to adopt their own domestic process for the nomination of judges of the Court of Justice.

Judge Regan will be interviewed by the panel established under Article 255 of the TFEU. 

The panel’s task is to give an opinion on the candidate’s suitability to perform the duties of judge of the Court of Justice before the representatives of the member states decide on the appointment.