Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is a fair point. At the committee we all agreed that there was no logic to the Attorney General being involved in both processes. The Attorney General has more control and authority in the second process. As a member of the Cabinet at the time when the three names are presented for one to be selected, he or she has huge influence. That is fair, but where is the logic in him or her being involved in both decisions? It does not stack up. Because of the tinkering with the amendments, we are being driven back to having to get the Attorney General back on both sides again. Give us a break. We are trying to do it right and want to reform how we appoint judges in Ireland. If one looks at all of the current judges, one can see how many came from private schools and all of the political connections to one party or another. It is a joke. People want to see things being done differently. We agree 100%, but we need a little common sense.

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