Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Of course. However, in talking about the procedure, I want to give the rationale as to why I am pursuing this. My whole purpose of tabling the amendment was in the context of an attempt being made to avoid accountability to the House with regard to the appointment of the former Attorney General to the Court of Appeal. That was the design all along. I said to the Taoiseach last week on the record of the House that he has an opportunity to do more than just talk about changing politics and that he should tell the House why this appointment was made, account to the House and explain to the House. That never happened last week. We had a full expectation that it would happen this week. Instead, what happened? There was an attempt to pre-empt that accountability by getting it sorted out on Sunday so that it was announced at about 6 p.m. that the Attorney General was to be appointed the following morning in order that the Dáil could never discuss it. The Taoiseach has the nerve and the arrogance to stand up and say that he would counsel against Members even discussing it because they would, what, embroil the Judiciary in controversy? With the greatest respect to the Taoiseach, he has embroiled the Judiciary in controversy by the manner of his appointment of the former Attorney General to the Court of Appeal.

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