Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Cabinet approved the Schedule yesterday. The Bill will be published shortly and will go to the committee for pre-legislative scrutiny in parallel with Deputy Jim O'Callaghan's Bill. The intention is that the programme for Government requirements will be implemented. We have brought into being the independent Policing Authority, with which Deputy Brendan Howlin is very familiar. It is chaired by a layperson and it makes appointments to the most sensitive positions in the country, namely the Garda Commissioner, assistant commissioners, chief superintendents and superintendents. It is entirely removed from the political process and from the Garda Commissioner of the day. This means the committee, chaired by a layperson with lay competence is authorised and responsible, by direction of the Government, for making those appointments independently.

The Government has set out in the programme for Government that there should be a lay chairperson and a lay majority on the commission process for nominating persons of competence to be considered by the Cabinet for appointment as members of the Judiciary. The new approach is to assist the Government of the day in fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities in appointing members of the Judiciary. Both Bills can be given detailed scrutiny at the committee and I hope it is a good experience for everybody.

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