Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, has asked me to convey to the House his regret for not being in attendance today. He is in Greece attending a meeting of the European Union Defence Ministers, a matter of considerable importance in the context of his work as Minister for Defence. I understand he made a number of personal requests to Deputy Ross to re-arrange this debate to allow the Minister be present to respond to the Bill and the points made by Deputy Ross. I understand also that is something the Chief Whip would have proposed to the House but for whatever reason, that was not possible.

Given that the Minister, at the beginning of December 2013, announced a public consultation process with regard to formulating proposals to Cabinet for reforming this area of the law and invited submissions, I would have expected Members to attach some value to the Minister's participation in this debate. I regret that, for whatever reason, Deputy Ross was unable to facilitate that.

I listened with great care to the Deputy's contribution. I ask him for a single example in which the method of appointing individuals to the Judiciary has influenced the decisions they have made. Deputy Halligan is waving a newspaper in his hand.

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