John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

Under the terms of the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, as amended by the Greyhound Industry (Amendment) Act 1993, I appoint the members of the board of Bord na gCon which consists of seven members, a chairman and six ordinary members. Ordinary members are appointed to serve for a three-year term on the expiry of which they are eligible for reappointment for a further term.

All appointments made by me to State boards are on the basis of the experience, knowledge and expertise that an individual can bring to the board and are in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation. While I do not consider it appropriate to disclose the contents of private discussions which I may have from time to time prior to making appointments to the various boards for which I have responsibility, I can confirm that in the case referred to by the Deputy I sought and obtained advice from the Office of the Attorney General that there was no legal impediment to his re-appointment.

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