Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I fully support Deputy Sherlock's amendment. In the past, predecessors of the Pensions Board would have had representatives of workers, and that is vitally important. It is not exactly a new departure. Deputy Sherlock has identified existing legislation where it occurs and I think several pieces of legislation specify that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions would be an appropriate nominating body. When we talk about the interests of workers, it is the trade union movement that is most appropriate to represent them. I question the fluffy wording in the legislation. Like Deputy Sherlock, I accept the Minister's bona fides but I have no idea why we would include something so fluffy and imprecise when we could put in something that is very clear and precise. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is clearly the appropriate nominating body. It should be as simple as that.