Judicial Appointments Bill support
Senator Ó Domhnaill defended the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, arguing that a lay-majority appointments system works and that GRECO had previously supported the approach. He said the matter should be debated properly on Committee Stage, not be treated as party-captured.
On another issue, yesterday I voted to support the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill being debated and I will do the same today. The reason for it is not that I have been captured or bought by any politician or Government Minister. I do it because I firmly believe it is the right thing to do. International comparisons should be used, and all of the international non-legal research that has been carried out by academics who are not linked to the legal profession has shown that having a lay majority for judicial appointments works. It works in England and Scotland, where the chair is independent. It is the right course of action to take.
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Yes there are people with concerns and that is only right, but I think the manner in which we lay out those concerns should be discussed on Committee Stage.
Much has been said about the latest GRECO report. I have not read it but I read the previous GRECO report. It was overwhelmingly supportive of the current strategy by the Government on this legislation. It recommends a lay chair to provide balance and independence. That was the GRECO position in 2014. I would be very surprised if GRECO has changed its viewpoint so substantially, as has been inferred by other Members. Some people say Independent Members were bought. I certainly was not bought. Nobody approached me to support the Bill. I am doing it because I believe it is the right thing to do. I believe the highest office in the land, the Judiciary, which makes laws as well-----
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-----should not be in any way captured by any political party.