Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have tabled a number of amendments to section 13 which are in this grouping. I think the point in amendment No. 19 about the ranking is interesting. If it is construed as a ranking, then that becomes an issue, because having business and finance placed above the operation of the justice system seems strange if that is the case.

I am concerned about the tension in subsection (4) with the aspirations in subsection (3). Subsection (3)(b) contains an idea of reflecting "the diversity of the population of the State as a whole", but the grounds as set out in subsection (4) are strangely narrow and quite skewed towards one section of the population. It includes business, finance and public service. My amendment No. 20 would delete section 13(4)(a), which refers to people involved in business, finance or public service, and would replace it with a broader provision, stating, "commerce, finance, administration, public service, civil society or trade unions". If we have a goal of reflecting the diversity of society, simply having those who have a business or finance perspective would include business owners and those in finance. Having people with international finance backgrounds being the laypersons on the judicial appointments commission is questionable when there is no option for it to be somebody with a civil society or trade union background.