Nineteen Deputies wish to contribute on the Order of Business.

We will persist with this matter in respect of the Minister for Justice. As the Taoiseach is aware, the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board advises. It is a clearing mechanism for suitable candidates, but it is the Government which decides who the appointee is. Something happened in this process that requires answers. The Taoiseach clearly cannot provide them because he was unaware of the other three expressions of interest, an extraordinary situation, yet he is defying the legitimate ask of the Opposition that the relevant Minister presents herself to the House, makes a statement and takes questions. It is absolutely extraordinary. For somebody who is concerned about the division of powers, the legitimacy of the Bench and confidence in the courts, he does all of those no favours by refusing to have appropriate accountability here.

I have said that the Government fully complied with its duties and responsibilities under the law and the Constitution in appointing Mr. Justice Woulfe to the Supreme Court. He was recommended as a suitable candidate by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, and that is it. Where judges have been appointed previously by the Government, one name went to the Cabinet. That is the position.

I have a simple question on the same issue, given that we are going to have to do this slice by slice for as long as it takes with regard to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Justice. That is fine. We will do it that way because the Government is running scared. When was the Taoiseach, as Taoiseach, informed - presumably this was before a Cabinet meeting - that Mr. Justice Woulfe would be the name to be put forward to be appointed? When was he informed by the Minister for Justice of that?

Is this a question and answer session on the same point? I will answer the question, and the Deputy knows the answer. I and the Leader of the Green Party, Deputy Eamon Ryan, prior to the formation of the Government, were told that Mr. Justice Woulfe-----

You were not Taoiseach.

Sorry, would you stop wagging your finger and just behave yourself a bit?

The Taoiseach to answer.

The bottom line is very simple and very straightforward. We were simply told that Mr. Justice Woulfe would come through the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board. That is it. As far as I am concerned, he came through the board and was recommended as being suitable for the position. He was an outgoing Attorney General and, in my view, was qualified for the position. In the aftermath of the formation of the Government, as Taoiseach I had no difficulty with the Minister for Justice bringing his name forward. I had no difficulty in supporting that nomination.