Dáil debates
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions
Judicial Appointments
2:15 pm
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source
As the Minister knows, thousands of solicitors and barristers have applied to become judges over the past 15 years. There is significant demand and competition for these much valued positions. I accept the Minister’s premise. We want to have people involved in politics but one should not be punished for a contribution to political life. The only way, however, we can restore public confidence in this issue is to give the power for judicial appointments solely to the judicial appointments advisory board and remove the power of the Minister or Cabinet to make that decision. Accordingly, it would be then beyond reproach.
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