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

We are discussing the appointment of three people to be commissioners on the data protection commission. It goes without saying that they have to have expertise and to be people who are suitably qualified and understand the whole area of data protection. I know in certain areas of life and indeed government, there is a tendency to try to get away from expertise but expertise is required in this situation. I will press amendment No. 11. I think it will be of benefit if there is an open selection competition because it is an issue where expertise is required. I have not heard a convincing argument from the Minister as to why amendment No. 11 should not be pursued. I am sort of agnostic between amendments Nos. 13 and 14, the European Data Protection Board and the European Data Protection Supervisor. On balance, I would go for the amendment from Deputies Daly and Wallace, No. 13, so I will withdraw my own amendment No. 14.