Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The reason I say there is no such thing as a long list is currently, the JAAB advises the Government of the people who applied, and of the people it considers suitable for an appointment. Sitting judges do not come into the equation. What is proposed under this Bill is that the only communication that the newly formed judicial appointments commission gives to the Government is, what I call, the short list. The fact that I use the term "short list" does not imply that there is somewhere a long list.