Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

If that is the case, fine. I am just making the point to the Deputy that I have been Minister for Transport, Industry and Communications in charge of commercial State bodies. I have been Minister for Health, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Finance. On all of the board appointments I make I seek to appoint competent people. I do not regard political party membership as a precondition for eligibility, but neither do I regard it as a disbarment. That is a fair and honest assessment of the situation. This politically correct culture which espouses that to be a member of a political party is potentially a subversive activity, prohibiting one from meeting the required standards set down by State-sponsored bodies is a non-runner. I am sorry but the evidence is not with the Deputies opposite on this.

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