Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I did not say five or six the whole way down to the District Court. I never suggested that. The Minister is now over-dramatising the situation. I never suggested that the appointment of somebody to Chief Justice would have a knock-on effect in the District Court. What I did say was that it is very likely to have knock-on effects in the superior courts, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Let us be clear on who is over-dramatising and who is distorting the issues that we are discussing.It is not me. I am dealing with what is probable but the Minister is now dragging in utterly ridiculous and fantastic notions that somehow I am proposing this amendment on the basis that some District Court judge's position would be the subject of a vacancy consequent on the appointment of somebody as Chief Justice. That is not what I have suggested and I have never suggested that. If the Minister would look again at the amendment he said he has spent weeks considering, it does not mention the District Court. It excludes the District Court.