Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I want to make it clear that I have no idea whether Máire Whelan is an eminently qualified judge, as is alleged by the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, and Deputy Brendan Howlin, but nor do I have any idea that she is not, as alleged by Deputies Micheál Martin and Jim O'Callaghan. On one level, I do not believe it really matters to most ordinary people because I believe most people are sceptical of the concept of eminence in judicial matters, and neither do most of us know whether proper procedure was followed, but we do know that the Taoiseach has said that this was all legal. Whether it was right or not is another matter entirely, and whether it was done because she was suited to it or, like all such appointments made, that the person in question was so close to those in power, she and those like her know where all the bodies are buried.

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