Controversial legislation which has been the subject of one of the longest debates in living memory has been passed in the Seanad by 25 votes to 23. But the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill to reform how judges are appointed has to return to the Dáil where it began, for debate on up to 60 amendments. The unexpected completion of the Bill in the Seanad follows a vote earlier in the day to put a deadline or guillotine on the legislation. The Government moved to guillotine the debate after two defeats on Tuesday when all Fine Gael Senators were absent when votes were called. Seanad leader Jerry Buttimer said there that had been too much “hot air” in the debate which had been filibustered by the Opposition.

Source: The Irish Times December 11, 2019 14:03 UTC