Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for promising discussions. Of course, as the Taoiseach will understand, I am looking for more than discussions, because this is a serious matter. It is quite obvious that the opaque way in which judges conduct their business is not open to any public scrutiny.

Judicial reform is important. The Taoiseach will be aware that I am alleging no misconduct in this case. The fact that the judge must remove himself from the case constitutes a waste of public money because, presumably, the case must be held again.

Is there any way we could remove the appointment and removal of judges from the political arena? The Taoiseach will be aware that this is an area crying out for reform. We have been waiting at least ten years for a judicial council Bill, which has not appeared because the judges have resisted it so much. The Taoiseach will be aware that there has never been a case in the history of the State in which a judge has been removed by a vote of the Oireachtas. There have been one or two that have come close, but it has not happened.

See this speech in context