Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tendering for consultancy services is something that many State bodies do, but I am bewildered as to how that is linked to the chair. You tender for a group or body to provide services, but I have never heard of tendering for a chair. You put an advertisement for the appointment of a chair on the Public Appointments Service website or the Minister picks a chair. I have never seen a tender for a chair. It does not make sense. If it is consultancy, fine, but tendering for a chair does not make any sense. Why is this not put out to the Public Appointments Service for a shortlist of names to be approved by the Minister and agreed with him or with the Cabinet. It is a very important decision. I am flummoxed by this tendering of a chair.