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

I am glad to have the opportunity to talk about this serious matter. The way things are going, we should not be talking at all. This Bill is about appointing people with knowledge to select judges, on whom we rely to mete out justice and give people a fair and balanced hearing. The Judicial Appointments Advisory Board comprises the Chief Justice, who is the chairman, the President of the Court of Appeal, the President of the High Court, the President of the Circuit Court, the President of the District Court, the Attorney General, a practising barrister nominated by the Council of the Bar of Ireland, a practising solicitor nominated by the Law Society of Ireland, and no more than three persons appointed by the Minister for Justice and Equality. It is proposed that the chairman of the commission be a lay person. Also to be included are the Chief Justice and the President of the High Court. At the end of the list is a reference to six lay members selected by the Public Appointments Service. The service must ensure a lay person will not be recommended for appointment as chairperson of the commission unless it is satisfied that he or she is a fit and proper person to be so appointed and is suitable for appointment having due regard to "his or her having demonstrated experience of effective board management and corporate governance". Who is going to check out all that? Why would someone in that capacity have gained as much knowledge as a judge, who would have operated as a solicitor or barrister before becoming a District Court judge or Circuit Court judge? The Public Appointments Service must also be satisfied as to "his or her having such experience, qualifications, training or expertise as is appropriate having regard to the functions of the Commission" and to "the desirability that he or she has knowledge of-----

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