Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Any people I appointed or nominated to a State board when another Minister was making an appointment were people I believed to have the knowledge, expertise and experience required. I put forward names of many people of all party political persuasions and of none whom I believed had the required knowledge, expertise and experience.

I do not agree with the Deputy with regard to advertising positions. People serving on State boards are people who are prepared to give their time, energy and commitment to the job. The position has become more burdensome and demanding due to regulatory issues and company law changes over the years and fewer people are prepared to take it on. The current system works well rather than advertising the positions. There is a more limited pool now because of the extent and range of people on boards. We have to pick people and I see nothing wrong with the current system. Many people across State boards appointed by this and previous Governments are not party political. They are there because of the role they play and their involvement in organisations in the State. I do not see anything wrong with that system. It has served the country well.

I resent these organisations being called quangos. If they are quangos, they should not be there. The organisations are there because of statutes and legislation of the House. I see nothing wrong with the system.

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