Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Several people have spoken about the appointment of the former Attorney General, Ms Whelan, to the Court of Appeal. Everywhere the woman's name is mentioned we hear about her qualifications. Her qualifications are not the issue. The issue is the process. If this happened in a public service job the employer would be before the Labour Court. Was this woman sitting in on a meeting of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board when the decision about the three High Court judges was made?It is something else to tell us that three High Court judges were not capable of promotion to the Court of Appeal. Did the former Attorney General sit in on the Cabinet meeting that decided on her appointment? We are told we cannot find that out because of Cabinet confidentiality. This is the worst form of stroke politics ever, but as bad and all as that is, the political comment on it over the weekend, of huffing and puffing and getting as far as generating the wind to blow the house down and then deciding we would not blow the house down, really takes the biscuit. Is it any wonder that the people of this country are totally cynical about politics and politicians? What has gone on in this country over recent days with the appointment of this woman to a tainted position? She has tainted the court by taking the role.