Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

On the same issue, there is a parallel process in place here. What weighting is given in that parallel process to judicial experience, for example, which is something the Taoiseach raised here in 2017 in regard to an appointment to the Court of Appeal? It does not appear to have been an issue in the case of an appointment to a superior court. There is a dual process here. Given what the Taoiseach has said about the process, namely, that the JAAB process was the proper route, the one person involved in that in bringing forward or considering other names is the Attorney General. Was there a conflict of interest? Was that something that was declared? There are many things arising here. As the Opposition, we have to a job to do in holding the Government to account. It is essential that the Minister for Justice comes in here and we have a debate about this issue. Equally, it is important that we have a judicial Bill in order that we stop repeating the same process over and over again.

See this speech in context