Some extracts from a longer and fascinating post:

First, the proposed wording does not restrict the permissible justifications for a pay-cut in any serious way. …

Second, the proposed wording contains no apparent constraint on the “classes” of other public servants whose pay must be reduced to permit a judicial pay-cut. ….

Third, on a literal reading, the wording doesn’t require any equivalence or proportionality between the pay-cuts for other public servants and the judicial pay-cut. If that’s right, the government could impose a 1% cut to the salaries of TDs and Senators, and follow it up with a 50% cut to judges’ salaries.

Fourth, the proposal doesn’t provide a role for any independent body in determining whether a judicial pay-cut is justified. …