Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I acknowledge that. Some would say that his elegant imprecision would leave him not under qualified for a job in that area on occasions. The substance of my amendments comes down to two things. I have no problem with the reduction from ten years to eight in the eligible term required for an appointment as military judge or director of military prosecutions. I contend that it would be no problem at all were people with that level of experience to be included and I have no problem accepting that certain people would be the beneficiaries of that. I stand over it in the context of my wider satisfaction at the opening up of eligibility to all barristers and solicitors within ten years. What the Minister and I would both achieve from what is proposed, whether he prevails or I do - although there is no doubt about who will prevail - is a wide pool of potential applicants.

It comes down to a question of transparency. I ask the Minister to say on the record whether he is happy that he was fully and properly briefed on all the relevant background.