Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to respond to the points raised by Deputy Clare Daly in respect of her keenness to delete the bulk of subsection (4). We have debated the desirability of a legal or non-legal chair. My approach is to have a non-legal chair for reasons that have been well amplified both during the course of this debate and earlier. If we are having a non-legal chair, it is eminently appropriate that the non-legal chair is a person who is specially and appropriately qualified for the job. My concern is that the deletion of subsection (4) will take away important attributes that an expert chair should have. I refer to experience, effective management, qualifications, training, expertise and the desirability that he or she has knowledge of and experience in the matters to be specified.

I accept the points raised by Deputy Clare Daly but I do not agree with them. From that perspective, if we were to agree this amendment or if I were to accept it, I would be considerably and overly narrowing the important position of the chair of the judicial appointments commission. That is especially the case since at this stage we appear to be moving towards that person being a non-judicial figure or a non-legal figure. That is all the more reason there should be expertise.

See this speech in context