Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach's reply and the fact that he is distancing himself from Deputy Ross's remarks. An independent Judiciary is an absolute bulwark of our democracy. In the neighbouring jurisdiction, we have seen political comment encroaching upon independent judicial decisions and how damaging that is to democracy.

I welcome the Taoiseach's statement.

With regard to the appointments system, constitutionally the final decision is made by the Government. I remember many years ago, when the current system was decided upon politically, it was determined that we clearly needed an expert panel to make recommendations to the Government. Does the Taoiseach finally agree that the expert panel which makes the recommendations to the Government of those who are fit to serve in the Judiciary should be made up, in the majority and certainly not in an exclusive sense, of practising judges who understand the complexity of the Judiciary?

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