Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very disappointed that the Minister is not minded to withdraw this Bill. The Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017 is now discredited. I have my political manners and I place great significance on the fact that Fianna Fáil is not happy with this. Fianna Fáil Members are the people helping to keep the Minister in his position in Cabinet and the Government in place and if they are not happy with this Bill, it is in serious trouble. It is not just Fianna Fáil looking for it to be withdrawn. There are people on the Independent benches who have worked diligently in their roles and many have concerns over this farce, and not just because of the confusion and disarray of yesterday evening and today.

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle has a lot of experience and he knows that there is a bad smell of trouble in this Bill. Sometimes, when a thing looks bad and smells bad, it is bad. I strongly advise the Minister to go back to Cabinet and ask what the Government is doing. He is on a folly and sometimes, when a person is in a hole the correct thing to do is stop digging. After hearing the Minister speak tonight, I have the feeling he is in a position of trying to defend this but does not want to be in that position. He knows he is trying to defend the indefensible.

It is wrong and it is unfair that the person who is proposing this, who has masterminded it and who wants it to go through, is not here. He should be here and should not be leaving the Minister to hang out to dry and to face questions from all of us.

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