David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In answer to Senator McDowell's appeal for support from his colleagues, I certainly will support it. First of all, this curiously inelegant phrase "other than a thing which facilitates such performance" is used.I am not at all sure what it means. Can the Minister assist me by explaining what the meaning of this inelegant phrase is?

I completely agree with Senator McDowell. It seems to me to be the height of absurdity that a member of the High Court or the Court of Appeal would be subjected to this scrutiny by an unnamed consultant or advisor. Will the public know who these people are? Is there any process by which the public can find out who the people are who are making this judgment, and what their qualifications are? Will the ordinary citizen in Ireland be made aware of this situation?

It occurs to me that we have the benefit of Senator McDowell's remarkable legal insight, but there is only one member of the Government here, along with our very distinguished colleague from Northern Ireland. We should have a quorum; I am sure the Minister would agree.