Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am awaiting the judicial reform Bill that has been promised. Like many of my colleagues, I have raised it with the Taoiseach on several occasions in the House. Deputy Shane Ross introduced his own Private Members' Bill on the issue of judicial appointments, but it was rejected by the Government. I am not satisfied at all, regardless of what the European body mentioned by the Minister might have said, or what might have happened in 2013. I am particularly dissatisfied about the handling of cases in the financial courts involving the repossession of people's homes. The House considered a Private Members' motion tabled by my colleague, Deputy Michael McGrath, over the past two days. The pressure being experienced by people was mentioned during that debate. We have seen recently that courts have been cleared of members of the public who had come in to help ordinary people who could not afford to pay for legal representation. The courts were cleared and the cases were held behind closed doors. That could not be right or proper. The Master of the High Court has tried to challenge the legality of the process around repossessions, mortgages and court cases. I understand he is under judicial review at this time. Why is an eminent man of his position being silenced? Serious issues of transparency and openness in the courts arise here.

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