Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The real power of the committee is in the ability to appoint and recommend for appointment members of the board. We then have to let it get on with its work. It would not be wise to bring it in on a legislative basis to consult on this type of work, which the board then has to do. The committee can make its views known and make a submission; it has done so on numerous issues on which it has commissioned reports and has done its work in that way. Nothing is stopping the committee from making its views known. If we legislated for the committee to take on some of the work, we would undermine some of the boards we are putting in place. I do not agree with the Deputies opposite but I am happy we are tabling an amendment which reflects some of their views on the Committee Stage debate on the nature of the forum.

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