Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This amendment presents the same challenges as previous ones. What the Deputy is proposing goes beyond what the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, is proposing in her Bill on the Irish language. It would preclude anyone who is unable to understand the Constitution in Irish as well as English from seeking appointment to the Supreme Court. The way we are trying to deal with the Irish language issue is without setting quotas or making proficiency mandatory. The avenues I have outlined in regard to diversity, gender and the Irish language are clearly set out in other sections of the Bill. Is there a particular reason the Deputy is proposing that this requirement would apply specifically to appointments to the Supreme Court?