Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator McDowell is an eminent and experienced lawyer. He knows the constraints and the possibilities of legislation. He has been a Minister for Justice and Attorney General, among many other things. This proposal in amendment No. 91g to section 49 reads:

In page 31, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following;“46. Where any three members of the Commission make a request to the Chairperson in regard to any person whose name is recommended by the Commission, the Commission shall also provide to the Minister a dissenting statement setting out the reasons that the requesting members are of the opinion that the person is not suitable for appointment to the judicial office concerned.

I will not repeat what Senator McDowell said as he already made a strong case, and we have yet to hear what the Minister has to say. He is nodding and I do not know if that is in dismay or in acceptance. He is now nodding in a different way.