Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Neither I nor the Government would make any recommendation to the commission regarding the political persuasion of any applicant or the requirement in such circumstances. It is up to the procedures committee to set out in detail the type of characteristics required. In fact, the Bill is quite specific in many respects. Indeed, it is the commission that would examine the appropriate vacancy from time to time and see if that vacancy fits with any particular pursuit within the courts system.

I am pleased to hear the apparent support of Senator Craughwell for amendment No. 88. I am as anxious as he and others to remove from the Bill the carousel-type provision in subsection (3). However, the difficulty is that the Senator's amendment No. 88a somewhat overlaps with my amendment No. 88. I would prefer if Senator Craughwell would go further and instead support my alternative amendment No. 88 and amendment No. 89 which, together, would bring matters closer to the policy and procedure within the Bill, as initiated, but would also accord with the point raised by Senator Craughwell regarding due process, no undue delay and a sense of purpose on the part of the commission to get the job done in accordance with the terms of reference under the Bill.