Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I hate to be difficult but even at the start of this committee we did not have the terms of reference. They are available now. We really did not have time to study the terms of reference in order to have a meaningful engagement on this. The Minister gave an assurance earlier, indicating it was his hope and intention that the chair would be appointed by early January. Going through an e-tendering process, there is a period in which people have the opportunity to submit tenders. We are now in the second week of December. The process is going backwards before it even gets started. We are up towards the end of the legally required deadline and I am just baffled. Senator Kyne articulated this very well. We have appointed chairpersons of tribunals of inquiry that did not have to go through an e-tendering process. The Minister should revisit this so would he consider doing that and reverting to a position where he would appoint a chairperson as soon as possible without having to go through an e-tendering process?