Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I accept they are different issues. This is a far more serious issue in my opinion. It seems the Taoiseach is the first Taoiseach in the history of this State not to be consulted in any way in regard to the appointment of a Supreme Court judge. Some taoisigh may only get to do this once but the current Taoiseach had no role, hand, act or part. What was said to him during the programme for Government negotiations, in which there were two parties along with an acting part of a Government negotiating to get into government, was that Mr. Woulfe had come through the JAAB process and that his appointment was likely. It is likely that Tipperary is going to win the all-Ireland this year but we also could lose next Saturday. That is not a definitive action; it means nothing. It is irrelevant when it comes to this process. The Taoiseach is the only Taoiseach who has never been consulted, according to what is out there now in regard to the appointment of a Supreme Court judge. The Government might keep voting down the more-or-less united Opposition in regard to this issue but I can guarantee the Taoiseach that this will not go away.

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