I too wish to send our sympathies and regards to Damien Carrick on the loss of Trish, a wonderful and courageous woman. The Taoiseach says there must be no toleration of violence against women and children in our society but the facts are that there is such a tolerance. The Taoiseach says we must do everything we can but everything is not being done. The Taoiseach says we must provide all of the necessary resources and on that point we agree. That, however, is not helped by playing games with big figures such as po…

-----if it means there is, finally, full transparency and honesty on this issue. The tolerance to this violence is a reality in Irish society and until we look that in the eye, until we resolve to do something about it on a consistent basis and until it is front and centre in government policy we will continue year on year with people like me and the Taoiseach-----

-----standing up and bewailing this awful situation.

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,…

The Taoiseach has not answered my questions.

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

There has to be accountability here.

To make a statement.

On the appointment to the Circuit Court that I asked about, was the Taoiseach aware that the person appointed had a previous professional relationship with the former Fine Gael Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan?

Can the Taoiseach inform us if there were other expressions of interest in this post? Please do not give the waffle about JAAB. That is one channel. There are others.

If the Taoiseach does not understand that at this stage, I have to wonder-----

Were there other applicants?

We want a statement.

No, we are not.

A Cheann Comhairle, can I assist you in this so that we have perfect clarity?

We are not saying anything of the sort. If the Ceann Comhairle is convening a meeting of the Business Committee with a view to the Minister presenting herself, making a full statement and taking questions and answers, that is precisely what the Opposition has sought now for weeks on end.

I ask then that the Taoiseach take to his feet and confirm it will be a full statement, with questions and answers, as per precedent in this House.

Does the Ceann Comhairle want the Business Committee to meet so that the Government Chief Whip will let-----

That is disingenuous.

I look forward to the Taoiseach answering some of Deputy Kelly's questions. The Government is to legislate to defer the increase in the State pension age to 67 from January, but we have not seen that legislation yet. This delay is causing great uncertainty for many citizens. It should be remembered that the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition first proposed the pension age increase, introducing one of the fastest and largest pension age increases in Europe. In 2016, we tabled a motion calling for the immediate reinst…