Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for their presentations which are insightful and informative. It is clear that each of the three of them eats, sleeps and drinks this topic, probably on a daily basis. We are all the better for their input.

My view is that the system needs to be reformed. It is not entirely broken; it has worked with a degree of merit, but certainly what we and the delegates have been saying points to some of its deficiencies, particularly on diversity. Ultimately, judges should be appointed by the Government because there is then a layer of accountability and responsibility, to which Governments have to live up. How to go about selecting the best candidates is where we come into the debate. Whenever political appointments are made, there will always be criticism, for example, in the case of the chair of the independent policing board who was appointed recently. I do not think one could have found a more independent or suitably qualified person, yet there was criticism of her appointment. Taking her as a candidate, one would go far and wide to find somebody more suitably qualified for the job and independent, yet there was criticism. There will always be criticism, which we have to accept as a starting point.