Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 18, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:“(9) Vacancies of the Commission membership will be filled within 3 months.”.

The amendment has been tabled because the Government has a poor record in filling vacant positions in non-commercial State-sponsored bodies. Shortly before Christmas last year, the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO, experienced a minor crisis when it found itself unable to carry out investigations owing to a failure by the Government to fill two vacancies on its six-member board. Acceptance of the amendment would ensure such circumstances would not recur and the relevant organisations would be able to function properly on the basis that they would have a full complement of members within three months of a vacancy or vacancies arising. This is a logical, simple amendment, which I am sure the Minister will support.

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