Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was agreed that time would be allocated. It has not happened this week and I would appreciate if it could be facilitated next week, because a lot has been said both here and outside the House. I would like to express my views in a considered way in a structured debate in the House and I am sure others would like to do so also.

My second point concerns the programme for Government.

Changes have been suggested in respect of the filling of appointments to State boards. I do not know if the Taoiseach is familiar with the work of John Walshe, the recently retired adviser to the former Minister for Education and Skills. Mr. Walshe has published a book where he states that Mark Kennelly, who is a leading official in the Department of the Taoiseach, metaphorically twisted his arm and said that Fine Gael wanted its quota of appointments in the education world.

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