Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Group 13 concerns the subject matter of amendments Nos. 117 and 118. These are technical amendments. They arise from my correspondence with the Chief Justice with regard to the provisions in the Bill as it stands, which permit me to appoint a judge to inquire. This is being changed to "invite a judge to inquire (while serving as a judge)". Amendment No. 118 concerns the replacement of the existing subsection (2) with the form of wording set out in the amendment. The emphasis of both amendments is on judges being invited, in the first instance, to conduct an inquiry and then being appointed. The Chief Justice made the point that it was inconsistent with the independence of the Judiciary that judges could be seconded by me without being invited to agree to the proposition.