Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I meant nobody has accused him in respect of these appointments. Nobody has accused any member of the Government of cronyism in this regard. Let us be very clear. If one looks at the people involved, who are fine men and women - and I will not trespass on their dignity or on parliamentary practice by adverting to any of their names - some 45 people have been appointed to the Bench and to senior offices in the Judiciary by this Government. In those circumstances, on what basis could it possibly be argued that we need to establish a commission to do what we are doing perfectly well at the moment without any of this stuff? It is worse than that - and I am slightly straying away from the text of the amendment - because the process envisaged in this legislation will deter people from applying to be judges.They do not want to be rejected, or go to an interview panel where they are evaluated by people, the majority of whom probably will have no legal training at all. I am also interested in the Minister's mention of a potential proposal that a majority of the interview panel could be judicial people. That is interesting but I do not think that is something with which the Minister, Deputy Ross, would be very happy. The interviews would be carried out by judges and the laypeople would get a report from them afterwards as to who was good and who was bad. I do not think the Minister, Deputy Ross, would be very happy with that idea at all. I think he would be very unhappy with it and if his minions are listening in to this debate now, they are already scratching out their strong objections to such a proposal.