Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

This topic will always engender an interesting debate, particularly in the Seanad. I cannot put it much better than Senator Kenneally. Now that I am on the other side of the fence as a Minister setting up agencies such as this, I always ask my officials why are Deputies and Senators restricted from being on these boards. I accept there are boards which should not have as members Members of the Oireachtas. Equally there are boards which could be more successful with representation from the Oireachtas.