New county registrar appointed in Louth

A new county registrar has been appointed for Louth after the 18 month vacancy was filled last week.

Mark Stafford, a solicitor and Fine Gael councillor from Kildare was appointed by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.

The Minister last week confirmed the news in a written response to Louth TD Ruairi O’Murchu who queried when the new county registrar would commence their position.

In reply, the minister stated that:

“Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions.

“The Courts Service Act 1998 sets out the nature of the relationship between the Courts Service and the County Registrar. 

“The post of County Registrar is a statutory officer appointed by the Government, with a number of different roles, including under-sheriff and returning officer functions.

“When such posts become vacant, arrangements are made with the Courts Service and the Public Appointments Service to run an open recruitment competition to identify suitable persons for recommendation to Government for appointment.

“I can confirm that a competition was run through the Public Appointments Service to fill the vacancy referred to by the Deputy. 

“This process is now complete and I am pleased to say that Government approved the appointment of a new Registrar for Louth today. I wish the new Registrar well in their new role.”

Mr Stafford qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and since then has practised in Newbridge, Dublin and Naas before establishing his own firm in 2013 with offices in Rathangan and Kildare Town. 

In order to take up the position Mr Stafford resigned from Kildare County Council last week having represented the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District since 2014.

Speaking last Friday to Kildarelive, the former Fine Gael councillor confirmed he had been appointed to the position.

“It’s a great honour and I am absolutely delighted and I am really looking forward taking up the role,” he said.

“I have resigned my seat as a member of Kildare County Council and I would like to thank the people of the constituency, of the Kildare Newbridge Municipal District, and the people of County Kildare for supporting me during my time with the council and I am very grateful to them.”

Cllr Stafford had spent nine years on the council and had been involved in local politics for some time before that.

“It was a great honour to serve on Kildare County Council. It is with a heavy heart that I resign my seat, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, but I am delighted to accept this post. 

“I applied for the job the same as anybody else through the public appointments procedure.”

The position is based in the Dundalk Court Offices.