Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with the principle underpinning the Deputy's amendment. However, its application would mean that if the appointee got sick or resigned from the board, the board could not function until another appointment was made. It takes approximately six months to go through the PAS system to make an appointment.

Do we suspend and leave the board in abeyance for six months because we do not have the required formula for its make-up? That is not the Deputy's intention and my intention is to facilitate in practical terms what is set out in the legislation at the moment. The legislation provides for the type of person the Deputy is talking about to be on that board. I am willing to assist in the appointment of someone from that background to the board. There is a process that we go through at the moment with the Public Appointments Service. It is the intention to put that on a statutory footing by the end of this year. It is a very useful mechanism and it is quite common to set out that we want people from a particular background. I want to see far more women on these boards. I am asking the Deputy to engage with my officials. We will do in practical terms what is already provided for in the legislation but if I make a specific provision in the legislation for one particular type of expertise, it could leave the board in a situation where it could not function if that expertise is not on it.