Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was very sad yesterday listening to Michael and Kathleen Devereaux's son on Joe Duffy's "Liveline" radio show. Their son gave us a detailed narrative of how his parents, who are 63 years married, were separated by the HSE. His father was permitted a bed in a nursing home while his mother was not. This couple have been together for 63 years and, on the back of the State, were being separated. I learned today the HSE became involved and the couple will be reunited. Is it not sad that the only way to get some justice and fairness in this country is to resort to Joe Duffy justice? It is absolutely appalling and unacceptable in this day and age.

The second item I raise is the Minister, Deputy Ross's Judicial Appointments Commission Bill which is before the Dáil this week. We in Fianna Fáil believe in reform of the judicial appointments system. It is of paramount importance. However, the Bill published this week by the Government is deeply flawed and that has been pointed out by senior members of the Judiciary. Fianna Fáil has prepared legislation proposing the establishment of a judicial appointments commission, fully independent of Government, that would make recommendations to Government based on the merits of applicants to judicial office. This office would not be a quango and there would not be a back office of administrative staff costing the State more. At the very least, we in Fianna Fáil believe the Bill should provide for a committee chaired by the Chief Justice. Anything less is an insult to the office of the Chief Justice. It beggars belief that the Chief Justice, as the senior custodian of the rule of law, or any of her colleagues, were not consulted on the merits of the Bill in any way, shape or form. With any other legislation that passes through the Houses, we have a complete and robust consultation process with stakeholders, whether it is a Bill on Seanad reform or on physical therapists or physiotherapists.I believe this is one of the most practical and transparent parts of our legislative process and it should not be eroded.