Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is right that the chairperson must comply with the principles of impartiality. My only concern is that by inserting the provision and limiting it to "when appointing panel convenors to a review or hearing", it might suggest the chairperson would not have to comply with the principles of impartiality in dealing with other issues. It is implicit throughout the Bill that anyone in the role of chairperson of the parole board must be impartial in his or her treatment of issues. Deputy Mick Wallace raises a valid point that a judge who adjudicated in a case and passed sentence on an individual could not adjudicate in that individual's parole hearing, but this all comes within the principles of natural justice that operate in administrative bodies. It would be safer to leave the proposed provision out than to include it.