Mr. David Healy:

They should be independent of the Government and State agencies. Suggestions have been made that Teagasc, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency would be ex officio members, but we do not think this would be appropriate. These State agencies would fit very well in the National Economic and Social Council secretariat's proposals for internal arrangements. The climate advisory council would be an external oversight body. The Fiscal Advisory Council comprises four academics and an employee of the OECD, and we would see something similar as being appropriate. It is important it has climate science and expertise represented on it, but it is also important it has people with expertise in the relevant policy areas such as energy, the environment, agriculture and business. The UK committee was notedly very effective when it was chaired by a former head of the Confederation of British Industry. The committee should comprise people with sufficient commitment to the climate agenda, which is what is behind the Bill, but with the necessary range of independent expertise. Community expertise would also be important with regard to social impacts.