Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I gave an undertaking on Committee Stage to examine this section. I wanted to make it clear there was no question of a Minister not accepting those elected. That is why I tabled amendment No. 26 which states the Minister may not refuse to appoint as a member of the council a person nominated by a professional body.

When I was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I was involved in nominating persons to InterTrade Ireland. The Sinn Féin Party directly nominated a person to the body who, the chairman informed me, made an excellent contribution. I recently nominated a Fine Gael Party public representative to the Crisis Pregnancy Agency. I like to think I look out for good people to nominate to appropriate bodies. That is the intention with this section.

On Committee Stage, Deputies were concerned that the specified bodies may elect persons to the council which the Minister may refuse to endorse. That is not the intention. Amendment No. 26 introduces clarity in this section to ensure the Minister shall not refuse nominations by those bodies which have powers to nominate to the council.

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