Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Its members are entirely capable of making blunders, but it is supposed to be notable when they do so. One cannot ask laypeople to become expert in the law solely to decide such issues. I do not have unshakeable faith that no lawyer will ever make a mistake. There is no doubt that lawyers will make mistakes and, in such cases, there will be a judicial review. A lawyer, however, is less likely than a layperson to make a mistake bearing in mind that the eligibility of the lawyers in question to membership of the tribunal will be based on their not merely being trained but also having carried out their professional duties for an extended period.