Press release
Minister McGrath welcomes appointment of retired Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice John MacMenamin, as Chairperson of IFSAT
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Finance Michael McGrath welcomes the appointment by the President of retired Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice John MacMenamin, as Chairperson of the Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal (IFSAT). Mr Justice MacMenamin was appointed on nomination of the government on 2 August 2023 for a term of five years.
Mr Justice MacMenamin succeeds Mr Justice John D. Cooke, who sadly died in April 2022.
The Minister stated:
“The Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal provides an accessible, efficient and effective appeals process for decisions made by the Central Bank and it plays an important role in ensuring the integrity of the regulatory regime for financial service providers in this country.
"I would like to congratulate Mr Justice MacMenamin on his appointment and to wish him every success in his new role.
"Mr Justice MacMenamin succeeds Mr Justice John D. Cooke, who sadly passed away in April of last year. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge Mr Justice Cooke for his service both as a Judge and as Chairperson of IFSAT.”
The Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal (IFSAT) is established under Part VIIA and Schedule 5 of the Central Bank Act 1942 as inserted by the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003.
IFSAT is an independent tribunal which hears and determines on appeals from aggrieved parties against any decision of the Central Bank of Ireland which is designated an Appealable decision. It aims to provide an accessible, efficient and effective method of appeal in an informal and expeditious manner. Whether the decision is appealable to IFSAT is defined in the relevant piece of legislation from which the decision derives.
An appellant dissatisfied with the final outcome may appeal a decision of IFSAT to the High Court.
The 2003 legislation governing IFSAT provides that it consists of a Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson and between 1 and 5 lay members. It provides that members are appointed by the President on the nomination of the government.
The following members are the current members of IFSAT appointed by the President:
IFSAT is based at – First Floor, 4/5 Arran Square, Lincoln Lane, Arran Quay, Dublin 7.
John Eoin MacMenamin (71) was a judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland from 2012 and retired in 2022. He was previously a judge of the High Court from 2004 to 2012 and a barrister.
Born in Dublin in 1952, he attended Terenure College and then UCD, where he studied history. He was called to the Bar in 1975, and became a Senior Counsel in 1991. While working at a FLAC centre, he initiated contact with other lawyers on a matter which eventually led to the case State (Healy) v Donoghue. The case established a constitutional right to legal aid in criminal cases.
At the bar, he had a mixed practice, with an emphasis on administrative law, defamation and commercial law.
He was appointed a Judge of the High Court in 2004, where he presided primarily over judicial review and constitutional cases. He was also a member of the Special Criminal Court from 2009.
He appeared for several clients at the Mahon Tribunal and for the Department of Education at the Laffoy Commission.
Mr. MacMenamin was also Chairman of the Bar Council from 1997 to 1999, and a member of the board of VHI between 1995 and 1997.