Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I will not labour the point but people should not refer to the Dáil as a Star Chamber which is what I believe the civil servants whispered into the Minister's ear. In any case the Government does not have a majority. We have all seen the difficulties in removing people from office and the Dáil having a say in the matter. The Minister has sole discretion to approve appointments. Why should it not be a matter on which the Dáil has a say? Even the Mahon tribunal recommended that the person have separate and much stronger powers than those provided for in the Bill which seems to be following the traditional path in the Minister having sole discretion to approve appointments.