Seanad debates

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

10:30 am

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Members of the commission are human beings. I am not impugning their reputations or behaviour but they are human beings and there could, indeed, arise an element of vindictiveness, jealousy, malice or spite. Someone might enjoy giving a poke to the President of the High Court if he or she went forward. How can the President of the High Court be deemed competent to judge someone else's suitability if he or she is not suitable? The very fact of putting the President in the position of having to judge the suitability of a candidate, puts him or her in an equal or superior position to that person. If one is making a judgment on someone, it suggests one is his or her equal or superior. I agree completely with Senator McDowell that the section is a nonsense and I support strongly the amendment he has tabled.

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