Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh mhaith agat. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. I will not oppose the Bill, as it implements exactly the recommendations of the independent constituency commission. However, that does not mean that those recommendations are above criticism. I will return to that.

We are here yet again rushing a Bill through all Stages over the course of a day. Last Sunday, the Minister for Justice and Equality again bemoaned the conduct of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017 in the House and tweeted that it "underlines the urgent need for root and branch Seanad reform or a second referendum". I like the Minister for Justice and Equality. He is a very likeable fella, but this is yet another example of sensible people saying rather insane things on Twitter. It is a comment that shows a certain hypocrisy in how the Government proceeds with its own legislation through this House. Ministers complain about the time taken on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill and yet the Government managed to ram its abortion legislation through the Seanad in three days.