Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To be helpful, there are two things. While accepting it is not where the Deputy wants to get to fully, reading the wording in the Bill, the change is significant in that the Minister of the day is being told by the legislation that "members of the Board shall be appointed by the Minister [of the day] from among persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have sufficient experience and expertise relating to". The promotion and use of the Irish language is there; that is the change. I have thrashed this through with Conradh na Gaeilge a few times. Far be it from me to speak for it but I believe its concern is that while it may be grand and well intentioned to include this in the legislation, will anything have changed in five years or ten years’ time? I can understand this and that it is built on years of experience. Again, not to speak for Conradh na Gaeilge, but it was asking of me whether it would be possible to review the provision or check to see if had made a difference. There may be some scope in that space to discuss it. The Minister of the day cannot review his or her own appointments to a board. I am being very honest with this committee in advance of Report Stage and I want to be helpful. I am not going to find myself in a position on Report Stage of being in agreement with quotas. That is being truthful and to be helpful. Again, if I think the aim here is to make sure the new promotion and use of the Irish language as a criteria is impactful, I believe this might be the space in which we should constructively think between now and Report Stage.