Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response to my question. To be clear, I never used the phrase "randomer". I acknowledge the Minister did not say that I did so. I fully support lay membership on the commission. It is hugely important to have a good spread of lay members with diverse backgrounds, not necessarily a law background and far from it. Section 12(6) is correctly drawn to cover a whole range of other areas of knowledge or experience, including persons who have experience as users of the services provided by the courts. That means the consumers, litigants or, indeed, those who have knowledge of offending behaviour or rehabilitation of offenders or both and so on. It is just about how to make sure we can get such diversity of experience represented on the commission and that is the issue that I am trying to address.