Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are 165 judges and, therefore, we should have enough of them for the committees. All the committees will have to be established within six months of the first meeting of the council. In the case of the judicial conduct committee, the sentencing guidelines and information committee and the personal injuries guidelines committee, their first meeting will have to be held no later than one month following their establishment.

Let us make no mistake about it; a lot of work needs to be done. The initial work being imposed on the Judiciary. It is reasonable to allow some phasing of the timelines within the legislation rather than have it specified and prescribed just in case there may be unforeseen circumstances that we have not considered. We do not want to put in place a structure that cannot be achieved. This proposal gives a degree of flexibility. That does not take away from what I said in reply to Senator Clifford-Lee earlier. We want to have this done as quickly and effectively as we can.