David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure the amendment mandates the Government to do anything. If the Government received the nominations of three people ranked in order of preference, it would be terribly odd if it did not consider them in the ranking presented? Why on earth would it not consider them in that ranking? It would want to have a very clear and specific reason not to do so and I cannot understand why it would not do so. If one is presented with a list of preferred candidates ranked one, two and three in order of fitness, why on earth would one start with number 3? Why not start with number one and then move to number two followed by number three? That would be the obvious thing to do and I cannot understand any reason why one would not do it.