Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----because I will be accused of snobbery. Other such criteria might include the person's religion or things like that. Why are we even considering for a minute giving the appointments commission the function of trying to work out a shortlist of three people from among the Judiciary in order of preference for appointment to the Supreme Court? Why are we doing that? Who are these people that they know more about these matters than the Government?What is their qualification? At least a member of the Government has stood for constitutional office as a Deputy or a Senator, theoretically.