Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

It is interesting to note that the Minister of State has suggested an increase in the board's membership from nine to a potential 15, nearly double the initial figure. Three matters must be considered. When the figure was originally nine, the members were to be drawn from persons, each of whom "hold or formerly held judicial office in the Superior Courts" or "are barristers or solicitors of not less than 10 years standing". While these would be welcome members of an authority, one expects a regulatory body to comprise some trades people. Given the potential addition of six new chairs at the table, there is scope for the inclusion of members of charitable organisations.

There is a great deal of merit in Deputy Wall's suggestion that the additional people be full-time workers in charity organisations. Charities are quasi-voluntary organisations by their nature with, for example, voluntary boards of management. However, they try to employ at least one full-time staff member to take on day-to-day responsibilities. It is critical that the charitable sector be represented on the board. It would make for a better configuration. With respect to the Judiciary, barristers and solicitors operate in a particular spectrum, consider issues in a judicial manner and take legal interpretations of Acts and practices. However, charitable practitioners possess a more rounded day-to-day flexibility and insight.

Given the Minister of State's proposal to increase the authority's membership from nine to 15, will he revert to the House with a representative selection process to draw people from the charitable sector after the Bill has passed through the Seanad? Given that his amendment has overshadowed Deputy Wall's, I am prepared to withdraw the latter. Considering the wider scope allowed, there should be a seat at the table for charity organisations.

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