Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It certainly was.

I note the comments of Senator Coghlan in respect of an exchange between two judges in a certain family law case covered in the newspapers. Judges are independent in the matter of the conduct of any court case, including any rulings in the court case, as they are in other matters concerning the exercise of the judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and law. It is crucial to the functioning of our democracy that each of the vital institutions of state show due respect to the roles played by each other and avoid entering into areas that go beyond constitutional propriety. I have no wish to comment any further on that matter.

Finally, Senators Jim D'Arcy and O'Keeffe raised the single parent tax credit and the amendment the Minister, Deputy Noonan, proposes to make in the Finance Bill, which I am sure will be welcomed by many.