Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will revert to the Senator on that.These are to reflect the changes that were proposed to incorporate a higher number of judges. Senators will recall that, in the initial drafting of the Bill, it was suggested that there would be a smaller number of judges and that a series of sub-committees would sit from time to time, as appropriate. On reflection, I felt it was desirable that there would be an ex officioplace on the commission for each of the presidents and these amendments specifically deal with what would have been the new members, the Presidents of the Circuit Court and District Court, rather than, as heretofore, being on what a sub-committee or subset, that they would now sit on the commission. It is following on the need for a recusal on their part where they have made an application for appointment themselves. I am informed, insofar as this applies to the Presidents of the Court of Appeal and High Court, they would, in the normal course of events, recuse anyway.