Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this legislation. The name given to the legislation might be inaccurate. Instead of being called the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, perhaps it might be better framed as the "Shane Ross Judicial Grievance Bill", because that is what this is all about. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has had huge interest in this area over the past number of months. I have listened over the past number of days as contributions were made and everybody acknowledges that reform is needed. Everybody acknowledges that nothing stands still. We must benefit from the mistakes of the past and use them to inform decisions into the future. Everyone also acknowledged our judicial system is wholly independent. Even the Minister, Deputy Ross, in a letter to The Irish Timesyesterday, himself acknowledged that "With a few notable exceptions our judges have served the nation with independence and wisdom". I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, for having the courage and conviction to pull this back from a Minister who is not responsible for this Department. He is to be commended on that. I hope the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, will take on board the concerns raised by people on this side of the House and by people in his party. It is a little disappointing, despite the fact the Minister encouraged Fine Gael Members to participate in this debate, that when I look at the speakers, not too many have participated. It is also a little bit disappointing that the Members of the Minister, Deputy Ross's own political party, although he does not describe it as a party-----

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