Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senator Quinn on his 21st anniversary as a Member of this House today. Like Senator Barrett, I was present for some of this morning's session on bicameralism at the Royal Irish Academy. While I must confess I had never heard of it before, I was delighted to learn something of Tristram Shandy and the Mill's principles regarding difference and separateness, which are very important matters. Our former colleague, Dr. Maurice Manning, made a very interesting presentation; they were all very interesting. I have asked for the papers and it would be useful to circulate them among Members.

I am sure we are all concerned about the judicial appointments review committee's submission to the Department of Justice and Equality as part of its consultation regarding the judicial appointments process. It used strikingly strong language in stating that the current system is "demonstrably deficient" and that the system must always attract high calibre candidates. While all members of the Judiciary have been appointed under the present system, they also point out that "the relative success of the administration of justice in Ireland has been achieved in spite of, rather than because of the [present] appointment system". The committee proposes that the merit principle be enshrined in legislation and it has called for a judicial education system. We would all agree with these points, which would be the useful subject matter for a debate in this House-----