Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. One issue that has clearly come to the fore is the difficulty we have in ensuring a clear and transparent process. I welcome the new commission and I hope it will bring clarity. For any position in the private sector, the public sector or anywhere else, there is generally a clear process. People can understand why a person gets the position he or she gets over the heads of others. That is appropriate and proper. It should be the case in the judicial system as well. We know that a former member of the Government, Shane Ross, made a great effort to do something about all this and, unfortunately, did not get very far. I hope we can do something that can actually deliver for people. I am aware that High Court judges feel that they are under pressure and are continually seconded to do other work such as preparing reports or overseeing certain bodies or commissions. They then find they do not have the time and energy to deliver the type of judicial system they want.

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