Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I know the point the Deputy is making, but he seems to have great faith in the broader services sector's capacity to organise itself tightly, and to put a fair, democratic system of election or appointment in place. That is also a structure that could be influenced by people within the industry who are not part of HRI and who may want to have a strong voice through the services committee. They may get their way in a manner that is far less transparent. At least if HRI does this, it has to come before this committee and explain the basis for determining the constituency and the election of members. It has to stand over it. If it is blocking somebody out, it will be exposed. If the industry itself does it, it is not answerable to anybody. If it would help, I could insert something on Report Stage that would state something like "HRI shall consult widely" before determining the constituencies and method of election. Something like that might go some way to address what Deputy Ferris is saying, but he should not forget that most of these sectors are represented on the board. I want to have somebody who can come in here and answer to this committee, or to me on the phone, regarding the basis for deciding the constituencies and method of election, rather than a group of people who are not answerable to anybody except, perhaps, their own representative body.