Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

This Seanad amendment arises from a commitment given by the Minister during the Committee Stage discussion in the Dáil to examine whether specific qualifications should be enumerated in this section of the Bill. The Bill, as passed by the Dáil, provides that in deciding whether a person is suitable for appointment to the valuation panel, the Minister must be satisfied "that the person has relevant expertise or specialist knowledge". This Seanad amendment inserts a list of appropriate qualifications to which the Minister will have regard when assessing whether a person has "relevant expertise or specialist knowledge", into the Bill. The list of areas in which a person should be qualified or have experience at senior level includes "property management and sale", "valuation" and "construction and land development". The Seanad amendment before the House sets out the full list of 11 qualifications.

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