Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

She is a person of integrity and passion, with a steely determination and an absolute commitment to leaving our nation a better place than she found it. I knew her back when I was drafting the Civil Unions Bill in 2006. Her immense experience in the area of family law was invaluable in helping us to draft the legislation that became the precursor for civil partnership legislation, which, in turn, preceded the marriage equality referendum. I still knew her after Fianna Fáil had crashed the economy when she had drafted the legal textbook on the NAMA legislation. Her knowledge of the complexities of property law and conveyancing are clearly apparent from that seminal text. Of course, I came to know her immensely well indeed during my time serving in government alongside her. I was able to get whistleblowing legislation, freedom of information legislation and legislation on the regulation of lobbying with her invaluable assistance. Outside my then Department, there was the X case legislation, the wordings for the children’s rights and marriage equality referendums and many more fine pieces of work. From dawn until late at night, she was available to the entire Cabinet as an adviser, a counsellor and an expert on legal affairs. I have the height of respect for her and I am absolutely convinced that she will make a very fine judge indeed.

Some people who do not seem to have read either of the Fennelly reports will say that she came out of them badly. However, those who have read the reports will know this is not case.

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