Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy should not be lead on this issue by a media which wants to present these appointments as outrageous and scandalous when they were actually on merit because of the excellence, independence of judgment and expertise that the individuals will bring to the Judiciary. That is a key and important issue. That has been the basis on which appointments have been made by the Government, as well as an assessment that an individual will fully and properly carry out their independent constitutional duties as members of the Judiciary.

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