Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Section 29 already provides for the membership of an appeals committee to include an inspector and such other persons as the Minister deems to be appropriate. I do not believe that it is right to be too prescriptive because one then has people in a representative capacity rather than having the best person for the job. It would be important to ensure the qualities the person would bring to such a board would include a good background in education and a broad range of experience. As with all the appointments I have made, I can assure the Deputy that the appropriate experience, skills and qualities will be considered when people are being appointed. I do not believe it is a good idea to be too prescriptive in the nature of those people.

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