An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Dail Éireann — 2020-11-17
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Mary Lou McDonald (SF), Dublin Central

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.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2020-11-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:47+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-11-17