Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 18, lines 16 and 17, to delete all words from and including “(1) The” in line 16 down to and including line 17 and substitute the following: “(1) The Minister may, following consultation with the chief executive, appoint such and so many officers of the Minister as he or she may determine, to be members of staff of the Agency.”.

This amendment is essentially to install the phrase "following consultation with the chief executive". It can be clearly seen on page 18 of the Bill that the text states: "The Minister may appoint such and so many of his or her officers as he or she may determine to be members of staff of the Agency". All we are asking is that the Minister of the day would consult with the chief executive before making such appointments. The final power would still rest with the Minister, but it would be appropriate to have in legislation that the chief executive would at least be consulted before such appointments would be made. This is an amendment that has been sought by people who work in this area and who feel that it would improve the Bill.