David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Enough of this nonsense. I do not know what the Minister had for lunch because he has dreamed up all these fantasies of smoke-filled rooms, conspiracies and so on. I do not know where it is all coming from. As Senator McDowell has eloquently outlined, the President of the High Court is deemed as being eligible to act on the Supreme Court. Is the Minister saying this person might not - not "is not" but "might not" - be suitable for appointment to the Supreme Court? Otherwise, he is saying the person must automatically be deemed to be qualified. Where is the argument? I just do not see it.

I do not know whether one has to be whatever expression I used was to oppose the amendment, but it certainly seems bizarre and I do not understand it. I reiterate that the President of the High Court can act as a member of the Supreme Court and, therefore, is deemed to be qualified. Why should he or she apply again, unless the Minister is saying such a person is not fit to be a member of the court? If he is not saying that, he is saying such a person, as the President of the High Court, is automatically qualified. I do not see any other explanation.