Ms Oonagh Buckley:

Secretaries General get fixed-term contracts but it does not appear to restrict the talent pool. I was on a fixed-term contract when I was with Workplace Relations Commission and it did not stop me. I am on a fixed-term contract at the moment as interim chairperson - assuming the members think I am talented. It is becoming the norm in the Civil Service and in the public service in particular. I would assume that it is something we could really strongly build into the system. It will involve a measure of external and open competitions for the board, but so be it.