Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My understanding is that what the amendment seeks is covered in subsections (2), (3) and (4). Subsections (2) and (3) provide for the holding of the competition by the PAS and refers to a recommendation of not more than three persons. Subsection (4) allows for the appointment of the CEO designate by the Minister rather than by the regulator if the competition is held before the office is established . That is the intention, namely, to get a CEO in place before we establish the regulator to do a lot of the preparatory work for the setting up of the regulator so that he or she is hitting the ground from day one. The amendment is not necessary given that we think the issue is covered.