Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Bill was due to be in the House on 20 June. That was the case several weeks ago when we were in discussions with the Independent Alliance on the election of a new Taoiseach and Government. It was delayed a week because Deputy Charles Flanagan, who was newly appointed as Minister for Justice and Equality, did not want to take it on his second or third day in office. It was put back a week rather than rushed forward, which is the impression that some people have created. It was due to be in the Dáil on 20 June. We have no understanding on amendments and any amendments put forward will be considered case by case basis in the normal way by the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Bill is provided for in the programme for Government which stated specifically more than a year ago that we would introduce a judicial appointments Bill providing for a lay chair and a lay majority. We would be going against our own programme for Government as agreed by Fine Gael, the Independent Alliance and Independents if we were to support amendments which changed that aspect of it.

See this speech in context