James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would say in response to Senator Higgins's point that a replacement nomination is just that - a replacement meeting the same criteria for the same period only of the unexpired term occasioned by the vacancy itself.

On Senator Ward's point, I fully agree that once on the Bench, a judge is not acting in the capacity of a former solicitor or a former barrister. He or she is simply a judge. However, a particular judge will have experience from his or her previous profession, and that insight will add to the commission's process of selection, which could be important.