Thirty-one Deputies have already indicated, including 13 carried forward from yesterday. I call Deputy Mary Lou McDonald.

The continuing refusal by the Government and the Minister for Justice to come before this House to make a statement and take questions on the appointment to the Supreme Court is outrageous and unacceptable and I urge him to remedy that situation without any further delay. We have learned today that on the day his Government appointed Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court, a second appointment was made to the Circuit Court. Can the Taoiseach explain to us his role in that appointment? The Tánaiste, Deputy Leo Varadkar, has confirmed that he knew that the person appointed to the Circuit Court had previously worked with the former Fine Gael Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charlie Flanagan. Was the Taoiseach aware of this when that appointment was made? Can he tell us how many applications or expressions of interest were made for that position on the Circuit Court? Can he confirm, once and for all, that there will be accountability here and that the Minister for Justice will present herself, make a statement and take questions?

In terms of accountability to the House, and if I could be given a minute or two on this and pre-empt further questions, I have answered questions on this issue twice on Leaders' Questions, on 18 and 24 November, with Deputy Shortall and, if I am correct, Deputy McDonald before that. The Tánaiste has taken Leaders' Questions three times on the appointment of Séamus Woulfe from Deputies Doherty, Kelly and Catherine Murphy.

There have been seven written questions from Deputy Kelly which I have answered.

No, they have not been answered.

The Taoiseach has not answered my questions.

I am going to answer the Deputy's questions.

The Taoiseach has not. Do not mislead the Dáil.

I am not. I will come to the core, if I may.

Do not mislead the Dáil. The questions have not been answered.

That is the Deputy's observation.

People have been asking important questions. The Taoiseach has asked for a little time to answer those questions. Will Deputies let him answer?

With the proviso that there are specific questions-----

I cannot predict what the Taoiseach is going to say. The Deputies have asked him questions. Will they let him answer?

There has to be accountability here.

Let us hear the accountability.

There have also been ten parliamentary questions from Deputy Kelly to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, which have been answered.

They have not been answered.

There have been two from Deputy Shortall. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has made it clear that she is willing to answer questions in this House. She said that last Thursday evening. The Opposition opposed that and any facilitation of that, which was due to happen next Tuesday, because of the format of how the questions would be asked. I believe withdrawing from the Business Committee based on the format of how questions are asked is wholly disproportionate. That is a reform that I championed. I believe in the Business Committee and I support its continuation. I want to make that clear. I spoke to the Ceann Comhairle this morning. The Ceann Comhairle has legal advice about the parameters and the nature of what can be asked. He is clear that questions must be on process and not commentary on the suitability of candidates or criteria, which some Deputies asked me about earlier. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I discussed this issue. The Minister was taken aback last week when she made an offer to come into the House and answer questions-----

Are we all going to get-----

The Minister is committed to coming into the House to answer questions.

We need to conclude.

That is four minutes.

She wants to deal with this and she will answer questions on this. The Business Committee should reconvene. The Minister is prepared to come into the House tomorrow afternoon to make a statement-----

To make a statement.

-----and answer questions as well. I suggest that the Business Committee meet to go through the format of that and work it out. That will be as early as tomorrow. From the outset, my main aim and responsibility as Taoiseach is to maintain the separation of powers and also to maintain confidence in our judicial system-----

That is completely bogus.

-----and the Legislature. It is not, Deputy Kelly, and you are wrong to suggest that.

Wait, now.

In answer to Deputy McDonald's questions, those appointments came through-----

Five minutes.

-----the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board in accordance with the-----

Are we all getting five minutes now?

I thought the Deputy would be pleased with that.

We will extend questions on promised legislation by five minutes. The Taoiseach has attempted to answer questions that Deputies have persistently raised. Deputy McDonald has asked her question. I will move to Deputy Kelly.