Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not going to depart from the current legal position on that. As I said to Deputy O'Callaghan and in response to questions in the House, the Government reserves the power to, and is entitled to, nominate a person of its choosing provided two conditions are fulfilled, namely, that the person is eligible and that he or she is qualified. That has been the position and it is the position in this case.