Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 23 January 2018

Select Committee on Justice and Equality

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed)

1:30 pm

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister pointed out that these people could be capable and worth their places on the commission. That is possible and there is a good chance that they would be nominated to it again by the PAS, which is a political animal anyway. Given that one of the driving motivations of the Bill is to try to depoliticise the process, we are trying to create a situation in which a Minister cannot simply reappoint someone. The person would have to go through a proper process. We are trying to diminish the number of paws politicians can have on the process. Our amendment is driven by that.