Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not think anybody's political persuasion should prevent him or her from being promoted or moving through the ranks of any job, whether for a judicial appointment or not. I was appointed on 27 June, which was a Saturday. On Sunday, 28 June, I came into the Department and, as is customary, I was given a huge amount of notes and information. As part of that information, I was told by my Department that there was a vacancy and a request from the Chief Justice to fill it as quickly as possible.

I also found out within those first few days that there was a list from the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board because that was already in my office and had been with the previous Minister. That was obviously made available to me, that there was one name. When I talked about the document I received on 6 July, that is a pre-document that I sign off on before it goes to Cabinet, so it does change. In the interim period, from when I was appointed and learned there was a vacancy to when I learned that Séamus Woulfe had come through the JAAB, I had a conversation, informally, with my colleague and with the Tánaiste. He informed me that there was a vacancy and that Séamus Woulfe had come through that process. I informed him that I was already aware of that. He also informed me or gave a view, I suppose, that he thought Séamus Woulfe would be a good judge.

I did not make a decision then because at that stage I did not have all the other names. I only received them when I got the e-submission. That was on 6 July and this matter did not go to Cabinet until 15 July. There were two subsequent Cabinet meetings in between that time. What I did, therefore, was not bring it immediately, even though I had been told that this was urgent. I took time to look at the JAAB recommendation, and it is a recommendation because it states that in the letter and in the relevant section of the legislation referring to JAAB. I looked at all the names that had come through the expressions of interest process, and then there was obviously a list of sitting judges. They had not expressed an interest, however, so that was something which is looked at last. Following that process, I spoke to all the leaders, as I have outlined in the timeframe, and, based on their responses, I made a recommendation. It is a very clear process.

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