Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is something to watch legal people converse with each other. It is quite interesting. Senator McDowell spoke about interview questions and entitlement. One of the first questions should be on whether he or she feels entitled to this position. Does he or she know what clarion is? Does he or she know what a smoking jacket is? Then he or she should be automatically excluded from the rest of the process.

On diversity, I think it is interesting. My question is on the conversation which was just happening between Ms Keane and Ms McNally. I have been working closely with the Bar Council and its equality and diversity committee on looking at the blockages at every point. It goes back to what Senator Martin was saying on whether we had the diversity material to meet the eligibility. We have been looking at that right through and have carried out a large amount of research.

There are so many blocks and barriers to people progressing, right down to being able to attend dinners, social events and everything that comes with that on a cultural level and how one is excluded if one cannot participate at that level, such as if one is a single mother. All these different things are coming up. The solicitor one is interesting because it automatically increases the pool and will have a knock-on effect on diversity.

How would Ms Keane address that in this legislation, if it were to be addressed? Has she thought about how this Bill could reflect that?