Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Broin for his amendments. The Government has two amendments in this grouping, Nos. 103 and 105. These amendments are technical amendments to provide that the appointment of the board and chair of the board will be subject to the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The provision as currently drafted provides that the Minister appoints individuals to these roles and these amendments bring these provisions in line with similar provisions for other commercial State bodies by ensuring that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, as shareholder, also consents to them.

I would remind Deputies that all appointees to the board, including the chair, will be recruited through the State boards process and in line with the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. The Public Appointments Service is currently running a competition to appoint the chair of the Land Development Agency and I hope that this process will be completed shortly.

I will address now address amendments Nos. 102 and 104, which have been tabled jointly by Deputy Ó Broin and Deputy Gould. Amendments Nos. 102 and 104 seek to amend a provision in section 15 to the effect that all members of the LDA board and the chair are to be appointed by the Minister and to substitute for this a provision to the effect that appointments are to be made through the State boards appointment process.

I am opposed to this amendment as it will be the case that all appointments to the board of the LDA will be carried out through the State boards process. This is in line with the code of practice for the governance of State boards. As is standard, the Public Appointments Service will run all LDA board competitions, in partnership with the New Economy and Recovery Authority, NewERA. Shortlisted candidates will be presented to the Minister for consideration. As I said, the appointment of the chair is currently going through this process.

It is clear that we have to abide by the code of practice. It is a robust document. Any changes that would have to be made to it if we were to accept this amendment to the legislation would necessitate a whole range of changes to different Acts as we would be adopting the principle that Acts would be changed each time. We want one robust document for public appointments and we have one. The document is really satisfactory. There is nothing like action. The appointment of the chairperson is currently going through the process.