Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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The nominating body system is a good one with oversight by the Oireachtas. There appear to be two points of difference between what the Minister proposes and our amendments. The first is the existing section 8(2)(b). I do not understand why the Minister insists on the chairperson being a lay member and why the Government has to appoint that member. The subsection states, "The Government shall appoint one of the lay members of the Authority to be chairperson of the Authority". Is the Minister leaving that as it is? The authority should be able to elect its own chairperson and that should not be limited to a lay person. Why will the Minister not concede that point? Why would he not extend the authority to 13 members? IBEC and the ICTU would make very good contributions. They are missing from the Minister’s list.