Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister knows as well as I do that it is very likely that it will not be an outside appointee to an ordinary judge of the Supreme Court. Such appointments occur very infrequently, although on occasions they are well merited. However, if one were to take what is likely and probable, it is very likely that a judge of the superior courts will be appointed to the vacancy in the Supreme Court. By the way, there is very good reason that should be so. Those those men and women have had the opportunity to function as judges, practice the art of adjudication and, so to speak, prove their capacity to be good judges. If the Minister is going to tell me that I am living in the past, I say that you are living in a fantasy world and I say that through the Chair as well.