Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not agree with what is outlined in amendments Nos. 25 and 29. It is not an appropriate space for an Oireachtas committee to be in to appoint or approve people's appointments to jobs. It does not happen anywhere else in Oireachtas systems. It often happens that chairs of boards, and the same will apply regarding the chair of the food regulator, appear before Oireachtas committee meetings. That will happen here as well.

There will be a public appointments procedure for the appointment of the CEO, who will be a member of staff, and which will be a full-time employee position. The position will be advertised and an interview process will be undertaken that is appropriate. It is not sensible, does not add up and would be unprecedented that an Oireachtas committee, along with the Minister, would appoint that person, subject to him or her having gone through a rigorous selection, interview and candidate selection process. I cannot agree to either of the two amendments for that reason.

I know that this legislation is something that the Oireachtas committee has given comprehensive consideration to. It carried out considerable consultation with stakeholders across the board in putting its own report together, and it has put 20 recommendations to me, 18 of which I have either fully or substantially agreed to. This is not something that the Deputies had proposed or put forward for consideration by fellow committee members for inclusion in that report. I do not believe it is something which, if considered in detail at committee level, would be deemed appropriate either. In relation to the appointment, as is sensible and good for the strategic direction of an office, there will be a full opportunity for the committee to meet with the chairperson. It is not appropriate at all, in my view, for that to be applied to the CEO and indeed, it is unprecedented as well.