Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy O'Brien is correct. They are already included in the Bill. There was no amendment to the Bill to provide for that: they were already included. They will sit on the two committees when a candidate is being selected for the Circuit Court and for the District Court. Their expertise will be used in that process. This was provided for in a deliberate response to the judges who said that expertise was necessary. Many other provisions of the Bill were amended in the process of consultation in response to judicial representations. I am not saying that this Bill is perfect. We heard some extraordinarily useful contributions yesterday not only from Deputy Jonathan O'Brien but from Deputy Catherine Murphy and other Deputies from the Independent benches, in terms of their suggestions regarding what particular provisions might or might not be changed. The Bill is not perfect. It could not be perfect when it is dealing with something as subjective as choosing lay members but it is a huge and successful start in addressing the scourge of political patronage in Ireland not only among the Judiciary but elsewhere.

There is no intention to say anything but good about the record of judges in this debate . We recognise that. It is important that they know that. There is no intention to insult them. This is simply an effort to give them a huge, significant and meaningful input in the process but not the power to make the final selection, which should be left to the good, honest, ordinary citizens of this country.

See this speech in context