Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I note the Minister's impeccable mathematics. This morning, the Leader tried to tell us that 109 hours have been spent discussing the Bill when, in fact, at least 125 hours have been spent on it and probably more. I have been accused by many Members of the House of being a lackey to my colleague, Senator McDowell. I took my own legal advice on the Bill and on Second Stage I stated that it was constitutionally flawed. I believed it was flawed from day one and at every opportunity I have raised the issue of the Constitution and the right of the Government to nominate or recommend candidates to the President for appointment as judges. The Government has done an excellent job on the 61 appointments it has made in the lifetime of the current Dáil.

I wish to compliment the Minister, Deputy Flanagan. He is a man of honour and a man of his word. It is clear that the tail that is wagging the dog had its own way and, as a man of honour, the Minister decided to stand over the commitment given to the tail. As I warned him on Second Stage and at every opportunity since, this flawed and ridiculous Bill will go down as the Bill of the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, rather than that of the Minister, Deputy Ross. Stepaside Garda station will go down as the greatest achievement of the Minister, Deputy Ross, but this will be the Bill of the Minister, Deputy Flanagan. The next Government will have no alternative but to rip the Bill up and throw it away because it is wrong. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, he has listened to my learned friends, Senators McDowell and Bacik, who are far better on constitutional issues than I am, and he has seen the flaw in the Bill and included the "Dougal, do not press the red button" amendment. The red button is there and Dougal will be able to press it and shred the Bill.

In light of the workload of the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, it is terribly sad that he has had to spend 125 hours in the Seanad defending this nonsense for which no member of Fine Gael to whom I have spoken has any interest or support. Fine Gael Senators have openly stated the Bill is nonsense and that they have no time for it, as have many Fine Gael Deputies.