Schedule 2 - Judicial Appointments Commission
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough, Conservative)
It may be of some reassurance to Committee members if the Minister could clarify how one of the provisions in the schedule might be used. Equally, he could issue practice guidance for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, although I accept that he does not want to interfere with their discretion.
In any case, paragraph 2(4)(d) refers to someone who
''is otherwise unable or unfit to exercise his functions.''
Someone with a criminal record for dishonesty or violence—and certainly for terrorism—would be wholly unsuited to exercising functions as a member of the commission. Clearly, we would prefer people of that calibre not to get on to the commission in the first place, but will the Minister comment on the use to which paragraph 4(d) will be put?