Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is new new politics, where every priority of the ordinary citizens of this country is put to one side. Housing is out the door, the health service is out the door and legislation on the most significant political issue - water - is delayed again. There was no answer from the Tánaiste to a question on that subject earlier. Instead, one Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, with a bee in his bonnet over many years about the Judiciary, decides it, and the Government and Sinn Féin agree to facilitate his whim. The idea that Fine Gael, on the whim of one Independent Deputy and in alliance with Sinn Féin, would radically overhaul our Judiciary and change the way the Judiciary is appointed is simply outrageous. It is unthinkable to the grassroots members and supporters of Fine Gael throughout the country, but this is what it is reduced to.

Sinn Féin saw Fianna Fáil opposing and decided it had to be for it. For no price at all, it offered its full support to the Government. At least the DUP in the North got £1 billion. Fianna Fáil said we would facilitate passage of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill provided a section on special education was included, and the Minister, Deputy Bruton, responded to that, but Sinn Féin does not appear to have looked for anything. It has gone hook, line and sinker with this particular procedure. I cannot believe that Fine Gael Deputies and Ministers are comfortable with this unholy alliance.

The Minister, Deputy Ross, seems to think the Judiciary is just another quango which he does not like and which should be dealt with in some fashion. He and the Government fail to understand that the Judiciary, especially the higher elements, are part of the Government of the country. This Government is split into executive, legislative and judicial elements. The Judiciary can make or break laws. They interpret the Constitution and run our courts system. They can make or take away the freedom and civil liberties of people if they deem it necessary to punish criminal offences. It is a very important body which, through all the years of the Troubles, kept this State running. It was the most important organ of the State to ensure justice was done and people were punished for their crimes. Sometimes this was done at great risk to the members of the Judiciary, and I am aware of several members of the Special Criminal Court who have ongoing Garda protection.

I know that, given all that history and having regard to the importance of the Judiciary, it is not in the hearts of Fine Gael to line up with Sinn Féin, whose members are not in the House. I know that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, and the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Fitzgerald, do not believe in what they are doing and do not agree with this legislation. I know they are not comfortable lining up with Sinn Féin and that they will find it hard to go back to local party meetings or branch supporters and tell them they have a great new law which Sinn Féin is backing.

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