Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will not push this to a full vote, but I wish to make a point. The PAS exists for a reason. My understanding is that the Government is meant to be operating a protocol whereby the service is always used, but we know that it has not been used in a number of high-profile cases recently. If someone was being appointed as the chair of the board of this important body, I would have thought that he or she would want the protection of being appointed through the PAS process, as that would satisfy the requirement for independence that the Minister of State mentioned.

It is disappointing that the Government is not considering this amendment, although I welcome the comments about the later amendments. I will not prolong debate on this matter, so I will press the amendment.

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