Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016 and the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards 2014 note that persons being proposed by Ministers for appointment as chairpersons of State bodies are required to make themselves available to the appropriate Oireachtas select committees to discuss the approach they will take and their views about the future contribution of the relevant State body or board. There is no requirement in the code of practice for other members to appear. The amendment proposed places this requirement in legislation on the chairperson and on the other members of the board - the deputy chairperson and ordinary members. The Minister's view is that it is part of the role of the chair to lead the board and it would not be advisable to bestow the same function on all members. In addition, the Minister does not believe that matters of this nature need to be provided for in the Bill. The system for proposed chairpersons to come before committees works well in practice and these provisions are not normally in legislation. The Minister does not therefore propose to accept this amendment.