Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Would the Minister not agree that stuffing the boards of many of these agencies up and down the country with Fianna Fáil henchmen, which is what they are, brings the whole process into disrepute? Will he not further agree that it is time to scrap that out of date, Tammany Hall system and move to a new system where nominations are announced in the newspapers and people who wish to apply would go before the transport committee or another committee with accountability to the Minister and the Department. They would go through the names and appoint to that board the people who are best qualified. I have seen fine people kicked off boards because they were not of the Minister's kin and colour, and that is not acceptable in modern Ireland.

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