Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said, the flexibility is provided for to increase the number to three. We have sought the views of the director. He is, to be fair, best placed to know the current workload, as well as what is currently being processed by the authority at the moment. I imagine that if his assessment was to change, and that there was a requirement to increase it, the scope under the legislation is there to do so. At that stage we would be in a position to increase. However, that is why we have left the flexibility there to increase the number to up to three members in the future. It is there and it will be used if necessary. At the moment, the clear assessment and views of the director is that the maximum of three is proportionate. That is why we are going down the route we are.