Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We will debate the SIPO appointments in a minute. As the Deputy will be aware, these are restricted appointments. He has read the Act. The chairperson has to be a serving or former member of the Supreme Court or High Court. I received two formal applications from such qualified people and I recommended one for appointment. The other appointee must be a former or serving Member of the Oireachtas but not of the European Parliament. The outgoing appointee was a distinguished member of the Fianna Fáil Party and his predecessor was a distinguished member of the Labour Party. The nominee I propose is a distinguished former Member of the House representing the Fine Gael Party, which is the largest group in the House. That is a reasonable way of progressing such an appointment.

See this speech in context