Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

To follow up on the four vacancies remaining in the independent member category, the Taoiseach says he has already received nominations from the appointments to State boards process. As he knows, Ministers, or in this case the Taoiseach, set out the criteria to determine eligibility for a vacancy. What was the set of skills the Taoiseach looked for to fill these vacancies?

Three current issues are being examined in the work programme of NESC, namely, jobless households, climate change and land use. We all agree the most pressing issue is Brexit. Should the economic, transport and other implications of Brexit be considered by NESC? Has the Taoiseach asked for people with the expertise in this particular area to supplement the existing skill sets of members of NESC? If he has not, will he consider doing so, as this probably will be the most important economic issue we will face for the next decade or does he believe those skill sets already exists on the council?

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