Seanad debates

Friday, 16 October 2020

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to talk about the artists' tax exemption but there is more to be said about it than I can say in a short period.

In response to what Senator Martin said, regardless of which administration or candidate succeeds not everything about either administration will be good. That point was brought home forcibly as I watched some of the hearings that featured the very impressive candidate for the US Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett. The thought struck me that she would not have a hope in hell of being nominated by a Democratic administration, which would be a great pity in my view. The thought also struck me that despite the sadness of the divisiveness in Senate hearings in recent times in America on the appointment of senior judges, and I reflect in some way on recent controversies in this country around the Judiciary, there is something to be said for some kind of parliamentary scrutiny of proposed senior appointments to the courts. I am not always a fan of putting politicians in the role of judges, as I have stated in the past, but there is something to be said for some kind of public visibility of Government nominees to the superior courts before the appointments are concluded.

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