Results 1,601-1,620 of 2,412 for speaker:Niall Ó Donnghaile

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: No.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: While we have had a prolonged discussion, we have still gone a relatively short way into this legislation and the amendments. That is why, given what has been said already by a number of speakers, I want to nail this as best I can. It is not really a great secret that Sinn Féin supports the core premise of this Bill. We supported it in advance of its entry into these Houses, we have...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: We are where we are. We support the premise of the Bill. I will not be opposing every Labour amendment. There are several Labour amendments which I will be supporting, which I am sure Senator Bacik will be delighted to hear.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I just hope we get the opportunity to get to those amendments before the summer recess.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: We can resist everything but temptation.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: God forbid.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Us.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: On the issue of lay members and what constitutes a lay person, I listened with great intent, as I always do, to the contribution of my esteemed colleague, Senator Norris, in which he said that for him what constitutes a lay person is black and white. He put great emphasis on the issue of experience. There is a point up to which I do not disagree with him. I would not dare to call into...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: We put huge import on the views of GRECO. In its report of June 2017 it found Ireland to be "globally unsatisfactory, particularly in the areas of judicial appointments and independence", even though all past members of the Judiciary had the illustrious experience that Senator Norris so craves. Perhaps it is worth considering that the commission comprise a lay majority, which might...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I sense that too.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I have not had sight of it.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Where is the reform?

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: This is where we amend it.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I move amendment No. 8:In page 9, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:“Recommendations to be based on merit 7. (1) No person shall be recommended, under this Act, for appointment to judicial office unless they are of sufficient merit to discharge with distinction the responsibilities of the office to which they are appointed (the “Merit Principle”). (2)...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: So much for our deal with the Minister.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: It is nice to remind certain people, is it not?

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I suspect the Minister knows but I did not mean to be in any way provocative with my earlier point. It was to give him an opening. I have heard the Minister's comments on my amendment. The objective is for the Judiciary to have greater diversity and reflect the diversity of the population as a whole. My amendment would make that a firm principal subject with respect to merit. It enhances...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Based on what has been said, I will not press the amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I move amendment No. 17:In page 10, to delete line 26 I will withdraw the amendment but reserve the right to resubmit it on Report Stage.