Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to extend from these benches a message of solidarity to the people of Boston and the United States.

There is no doubt that the row between the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, and the judges is unprecedented and unnecessary but the Taoiseach seems to be choosing to look the other way. Despite what the Taoiseach has said here this afternoon, the judges say that communication has broken down and they attribute this very directly to Deputy Shatter's way of doing business. Not alone has he alienated An Garda Síochána, but has added to his list the judges, the Bar Council and the Law Society of Ireland.

Some of the reforms being pursued by the Minister are good but others are questionable. However, the issue here is the manner in which the Minister pursues his business. It is not acceptable for the Minister to try to railroad through key changes without adequate consultation with relevant stakeholders. Nor is it helpful or advisable for the Minister just to arrogantly reject any criticism of his approach to reform. No stakeholders, judges included, should have a veto on any change but they do have a right to be listened to and any sensible Minister for Justice and Equality would make it his business to have a listening ear.

We have a situation now where morale among gardaí is at an all-time low and this seems to be now infecting other arms of the legal and judicial system. I hope the Taoiseach will agree that he cannot allow this situation to continue. Does the Taoiseach intend to intervene? Does he accept that there is a problem in the manner of engagement between the Minister and the Judiciary? Is he going to do anything about this? Would he consider, for instance, appointing an independent mediator to examine the issues involved and to try to come to some resolution between the Minister and the Judiciary?

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