Clause 24 - Attorney general
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill
4:45 pm
Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 30, in page 14, line 37, leave out '70' and insert '75'.
The amendment would raise the age up to which the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland can be in his post to 75 from 70, and there is nothing complicated about its purpose. When I considered the issue, it struck me that the range of people who are available for appointment in Northern Ireland is inevitably more restricted than elsewhere because it is a small community. The Attorney-General's functions will
not be hugely onerous, particularly as he is disqualified from being an active politician. My understanding is that the retirement age for judges is 75—the Minister is shaking his head, so perhaps it is 70.
5.15 pm