Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Senators who participated in the debate. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, for his report, which is very similar to what I said to him. I can see many of the same sentences and the same language in his contribution. It would appear that we are all at one.

I do not wish to keep emphasising it, but I was talking to a number of colleagues who raised these issues and we know that there is no mention of a judicial council in the programme for Government. I am delighted that in recent times somebody decided, for whatever reason - I would like to think it was due to many of us here raising the issue - that the Bill found itself in recent times on the A list. That is great, but as the Chief Justice, Mrs. Susan Denham, has pointed out in the past, there has been promise after promise after promise. To be fair, Fine Gael has been in government for the past five years. We need a timeline. We need an absolute timeframe for the delivery of the Bill.The situation is unique in that the Judiciary is looking for this. There is no battle here. I do not propose to comment on the issue of judicial appointments other than to echo what previous speakers have said in that regard. There are serious constitutional implications in terms of what the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, might be suggesting on which we need clarification. We will have an opportunity to raise that matter again tomorrow in the Seanad and it is my intention to do so. We need clarification in this House on whether, as has been expressed repeatedly over the past few days, a special, cast-iron agreement has been done with a member or some members of the Independent Alliance regarding appointments to the Judiciary. Justice delayed is justice denied. If there are vacancies in the Courts Service for judges they should be filled, regardless. This is about justice and not politics or politicians.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, for coming to the House for this debate. It is important we have a timeline and momentum regarding the publication of the Bill. What is important is that we have progress on this matter.