John Crown (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a quick question for the Leader. When I was fairly newly elected, a controversy arose involving another politician who had made representations in respect of a criminal case to the Judiciary. It emerged in the press that several similar episodes had occurred. I was interviewed in the press and stated this was a practice we should probably regulate and legislate for. My first backbencher Bill was an attempt to regulate the process. At the time, the then Minister for Justice and Equality issued a statement to the effect that it was a bizarre proposal and that it would have represented a gross violation of the separation of powers. In view of recent reports, I wonder whether it is possible to have the question re-addressed. Considering that the practice I described still occurs, is it possible to have it acknowledged that my proposal to have clarity surrounding the making of representations, rather than the current opacity, and force people to register representations made to judges on behalf of constituents in criminal cases was not bizarre after all?