Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Quinn's amendment relates to the Minister's nomination of non-architects to the registration body and would require the Minister to nominate people with a knowledge of the construction sector, the third level education sector and a knowledge of social partnership. The purpose of this section is to nominate lay persons to the registration body and the Minister of the day might consider it appropriate to nominate people with the knowledge referred to in the amendment.

A view could, however, be taken on knowledge of the construction sector that the architect members of the registration body would provide sufficient experience of the construction industry. For that reason, I would prefer to leave it to the discretion of the Minister of the day to nominate lay people who would make a contribution to the working of the registration body without constraining him or her in legislation on the type of knowledge these nominees should have. In the circumstances, I hope the Deputy will accept my position.

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