Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

The Green Party is opposed to No. 11, in particular, being taken without debate. The Government has shied away from the Dáil for long enough and it wants to shy away from debating this issue. I take on board the points made by Deputies Jim O'Keeffe and Costello. However, we had debates on the appointments of the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner and the Ombudsman for Children and they provided a useful opportunity for the public to have a say through their public representatives and for the officeholders to get a sense of the way in which their offices are perceived and the expectation on their offices. It is remiss of the Government to seek to put through this proposal without debate, particularly given that the relevant legislation suggests and creates the expectation of a debate. This is a dangerous break from the precedent in this regard and it does no service to the persons to be appointed.

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