Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and my colleagues for elaborating on the amendments and raising so many points. I am grateful for the opportunity to have this debate and, as I said, I hope to adjust some of these amendments between now and Report Stage. Listening to the debate helped to clarify my mind on this. I accept the Minister's point about sitting District Court judges, to address amendment No. 72 first. His response was almost entirely directed to that amendment. The calibre of District Court judges has improved enormously, and those judges are currently being promoted to the Circuit Court and from there to the High Court. However, I am also conscious of the motivation for our amendment which is, as Senator McDowell said, that there is a concern about undue emphasis on promotional opportunities within the Judiciary and the compromising effect that can have on judicial independence. That is not to say it has that effect-----