James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to understand the amendment in order to assess it and then in turn understand Deputy Quinlivan's opposition to it to enable me to adopt a balanced view on what might be the right course of action. We must be careful not to be overly prescriptive about these boards. Sometimes we can get into the habit of saying there must a representative from "X" sector, "Y" sector, the voluntary sector, the business sector, the corporate sector and the regulatory sector and then, before one knows it, there are 20 people on a board and we start asking why the board is so big and suggesting that something be done to reduce its size. One can become trapped in that mindset.

I am unfamiliar with the original composition of the board. Deputy Quinlivan has said that ICTU and IBEC almost mark each other on the board. I understand why IBEC would be on the board. Part of the reason that we seek reform is to reduce the cost to business and make insurance more affordable.