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

I am informed that the power would only exist before the establishment of the regulator and then after that, it would have to be done through the PAS system. What we are talking about is the interim period in terms of appointing a CEO designate before a regulator is put in place, but once the regulator is appointed, future appointments will go through the official system as per standard Government practice.