Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 60:

In page 25, lines 5 to 22 to delete subsections (1) and (2) and substitute the following:“(1) There shall be a chief executive officer of the Authority who shall be appointed by the Authority and who shall be known, and is referred to in this Act, as the “chief executive”.
(2) The chief executive shall hold office under a written contract of service (which contract may, at the discretion of the Authority, be renewed) for such period as is specified in the contract, and subject to such terms and conditions (including terms and conditions relating to remuneration) as are determined by the Authority with the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.”.

The proposed amendments, like other amendments tabled, are primarily aimed at simplifying the CEO provision, while removing any ministerial role in the specific matters concerned. The new provisions in regard to the process of appointment of the chief executive of the authority will, if accepted, be similar to those for the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Deputies will note that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will have a role in approving the terms, conditions and remuneration of the chief executive, which is in keeping with my desire to ensure the costs of the new authority will be kept within a reasonable and sustainable level for the legal practitioners who must fund it.