Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

It is astonishing that we do not know the process for appointing the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Approximately 15% of our population now comprises immigrants, yet I do not see any names which might belong to immigrants in the list supplied by the Taoiseach of appointments to boards under the remit of his Department. How can immigrants who have lived in Ireland for the past ten or 18 years be appointed to State boards? Should they join political parties or get involved in ICTU or the various employers' federations? How do people who want to serve the public partake in the appointment process? Should it not be more transparent, inviting and open to people of skill and substance?

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