Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government will legislate very shortly for NewERA, which is the entity charged with the Government's shareholding in semi-State companies and advising Ministers on appointments to boards of semi-States. In order to encourage public participation here and to have the best talent available, the process of public expressions of interest is available to the public, and many do apply. Obviously, the range of experience they offer is enormous. Ministers do not need to be confined to the applications that are received in that regard.

As I said, everybody who is appointed to a chair of a State board has to come before the Oireachtas committee and answer for his or her experience. As I said, if somebody from the House is nominated for consideration for appointment to the European Commission, I am quite sure he or she would have no difficulty in going before the European affairs committee.

An allegation was made to me yesterday about a major waste dump outside Derry, which apparently has generated an income of approximately £15 million. An allegation was made as to where that money went. I said: "I do not believe it." Maybe allegations that Deputy Adams makes here or that are made to me or to anybody else sometimes are very far removed from the facts and from the truth.

See this speech in context