The Government will announce today that, for the first time, two solicitors have been nominated for appointment directly to the High Court. It decided yesterday to nominate the two solicitors, along with two senior counsel, for appointment to the court by the President.

The appointment of solicitors was made possible by legislation in the final weeks of the last government, which ended the practice, in operation since the foundation of the State, that only barristers could be appointed as judges in the higher courts.

The solicitors are Mr Eamon de Valera of McCann Fitzgerald, and Mr Michael Peart.

Ms Mary Finlay SC and Mr Barry White SC were also appointed at yesterday's Cabinet meeting. Ms Finlay represented the Attorney General in the referral of the Employment Equality Act to the Supreme Court by the President.

Mr White has prosecuted many high-profile criminal cases.

The Cabinet also decided to nominate one Circuit Court judge and four District Court judges. All the names will be announced officially today.