Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No, I did not withdraw that. It happened. What happened then? They were acquitted and nothing more was said about it. It was absolutely grand. These are people who give conditional support to our judicial system, and it is they who are supporting the changes being proposed by the Government. The Government is depending on that group of people to get this flawed legislation through the Dáil. That is seriously worrying.

The Government is taking a wrecking ball to the judicial system on the basis of a personal crusade by the Minister, Deputy Ross, who is unable to be here again today. Perhaps he is in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport doing what he should be doing. It is supported by Sinn Féin and Solidarity-People Before Profit. I ask the Minister and any other Member to list what judicial appointments they believe were incorrect and what judges they believe have been corrupted, have not done the job they were supposed to do or have not upheld the laws of this country. I believe the Judiciary has served the State very well. Others might not because of the DNA within their political movements, which late in the day have come around to recognising the courts and the State. There are some people who, in their DNA, have no regard or respect for our judicial system. They are the people who are supporting the Minister, Deputy Flanagan's Bill, which is really the Minister, Deputy Ross's Bill. The Government should take another look at the Bill and assess whether it is doing the right thing. I believe it is not. It is bringing forward some very serious changes to a process and judicial system that have served the State well against many threats over the years, perpetrated by many different terrorist groups and political parties. That is a fact.

See this speech in context