Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Wallace and I are arguing for the PAS to have a greater role in the process on condition that, as Deputy Wallace stated, it casts the net wider to increase diversity on the Judicial Appointments Commission. I apologise if my earlier explanation was unclear. In fairness to the Minister, he explained the issue better than I did. The reason our amendments propose removing the word "lay" is that we are also proposing that the legal persons be appointed by the PAS. To improve diversity on the commission, we want these appointments to be made on the basis of the same standards that will apply to the appointment of laypersons. We recommend that the barrister and solicitor be appointed by the PAS. To this end, we propose the deletion of the word "lay" to ensure these two nominations are also covered by the diversity requirement when the PAS is making its decision.