Mr. Brendan Gleeson:

No. Deputies mentioned the size of boards but all I can do is present the facts and reasons we selected board sizes as provided for in the general scheme. It is not an arbitrary figure and is based on recommendations by Indecon. Its work was based on a series of consultations and the examination of best practice. That is the basis on which we picked the number and how we decided the proposed composition of the board. The committee will have its own views on the composition and size of the board and we will have to consider any alternative view arises in the report from the committee. The figure arose from work done in examining the question very deeply.