Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman for his indulgence.

Fianna Fáil's Bill would provide for wide public representation, including representatives appointed by FLAC, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the Citizens Information Board, the Higher Education Authority and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. It would also lay out specific criteria by which judges should be evaluated.

We all know what is going on. We all know that this is a flawed Bill and that Fine Gael is deeply uncomfortable with it. We all know that it is being pushed through because the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, wants it to be pushed through and that it is one of the prices to be paid for compromise and coalition. If that is what will happen, we do not have the numbers to stop it, although, obviously, we will vote against it. If the Minister is to proceed with the Bill - I believe he knows that it is deeply flawed-----

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