Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 27, to delete lines 28 to 31 and substitute the following: “(2) Subject to subsection (1), the function of selection and recommendation of persons for appointment to judicial office in the State shall conform to the objectives that the membership of the judiciary in each court should—

This is moving it from as far as "feasible and practicable" to "shall". It again goes back to strengthening the requirement for diversity and the Irish language. The amendment changes what is aspirational to a requirement. There are qualified individuals out there who fulfil the relevant criteria.

Government policy on legal education should ensure they continue to exist rather than allowing the status quoto continue. Amendment No. 14 proposes changing the definition of "merit" to include a strict requirement for a judge presented for appointment to be competent in both official languages.