The appointment of Senior Counsel Shane Murphy is top of the agenda for the Oireachtas committee established to investigate the conduct of Judge Brian Curtin, when it reconvenes today.
The committee met for the first time last night since the Supreme Court judgment upholding its right to conduct the inquiry, but it is reluctant to proceed without senior counsel after Kevin Feeney SC was appointed a High Court judge.
The committee, chaired by Fianna Fáil TD Denis O'Donovan, has drawn up a shortlist of around five candidates to replace Mr Feeney.
Mr Murphy, who has already deputised for the departing Mr Feeney, is the preferred candidate for the position, if available.
Mr O'Donovan told ireland.comtoday that he thinks there would be unanimous support for Mr Murphy's appointment, should he confirm his availability.
Also on the agenda is further discussion on how to proceed in light of the Supreme Court judgment, but progress depends on a the appointment of senior counsel.
The committee will meet again tomorrow if final decisions have not been made this evening.
Judge Curtin was charged with possession of child pornography in November 2002 but the case against him was thrown out in April 2003 because the warrant used to search his home and seize his personal computer was out of date.
In June of that year the Government proposed the setting-up of a seven-person Oireachtas committee to inquire into Judge Curtin's conduct.
A lengthy High Court challenge was taken by Judge Curtin's representation to determine whether the committee's inquiry was constitutional.
After the inquiry was ruled constitutional Judge Curtin appealed to the Supreme Court which upheld the decision on March 9th this year.