Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes. There has to be some credibility if such an approach is made to somebody. He or she needs to know that he or she is not wasting his or her time and that his or her hopes are not being raised and dashed. That is why I have a real concern. The amendment is quite narrow in its focus. If somebody is to be shortlisted, either it is a secret between the commission and the Cabinet or it is not. If it is not, are the media, if they find out about it, free to publish the information by whatever means? If a Minister inadvertently says, "By the way, David Norris was shortlisted three times but we have not appointed him," is he to read it on the front page of a newspaper?