Mr. Patrick O'Connor:

I do not know what the future will be. A procedure has been set out in the Act on how, if a vacancy arises, it can be filled by the Minister. That appointment will see out the rest of the term.

There are five members of the tribunal. There was an application process through the Public Appointments Service. I filled out a form on the website, publicjobs.ieand gave my various credentials. A decision was then taken on my being appointed to the tribunal.