David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 105a:

In page 36, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:“55. (1) Where the Commission has approved a statement in accordance with section 54, it shall submit the statement to the Secretary to the Government.

(2) A statement submitted under subsection (1) shall not be published under this Part unless and until a motion approving the statement for publication shall have been prepared by or on behalf of the Government and approved by each House of the Oireachtas.”.

Senator McDowell's interest here is in the constitutional robustness of the provisions of the Bill. He believes that the procedures the judicial appointments commission operates under should be ones that have received a certain amount of scrutiny by the Government. Many times during the 125 hours of this debate, Senator McDowell has referred to the power of the Government. It is reserved for the Government to make the appointments and nobody else should be involved directly in the process of appointment. We want the Government to continue to have the exclusive power to recommend judicial appointments to the President. That is the significance of this amendment.