Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I hear among the commentariat and Members of this House that this is a vanity project for which there is no need; there is a need for it. Senator McDowell is quite right when he makes the point there is a need for it. I do not foresee that there will be immediate gridlock in the commission when it deals with the appointment of in or about 50 judges per year. Senator McDowell said people will drop dead and they may well do so but they will not do so with any greater frequency under the new commission than under the appointments board procedure. We must be realistic.