Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

On that last point, that provision was inserted specifically in case of prospect that I might be sitting on the other side of the House at some time in the future. I would like to retain the ability to use the facility in the legislation to be proactive and nominate people because that facility keeps this process going. It does not hand it back to the Minister. I would prefer to do that. If we cannot do our business here in the Oireachtas within 90 days, in terms of getting a committee to meet, that would be a sign of our own inefficiency. I would adhere to the way the Bill is written to give that power to the Oireachtas committee and to continue to give it after the actual foundation.

There are ways in which it can be done, and these are the details we can work out in the meetings we have to decide how this process works. If the Oireachtas committee proposes 12 names in total, there would be no problem having a list of, say, 16 to ensure there is a substitute. If, for whatever reason, a member was not able to be on the board, the Minister would be able to choose, say, No. 13 or, two years later, if the list is still intact, it gives us the ability to do something fairly quickly. There are ways around that issue but I am reluctant to give the power to the Minister. I would prefer to give it to the Oireachtas committee.

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