Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

While I appreciate Senators and Deputies on all sides in both Houses have strong views on the hiring of consultants, advisers and so on, I ask Senators not to let those views cloud what is being done in this Bill. The digital hub is a detailed enterprise. There was agreement on an earlier section that the chief executive and the chairman of the board would be at arm's length. In that instance we suggested a member of staff would replace the chief executive should there be a vacancy in the chief executive's position. However, that member of staff may not have the required skills to run the company. In that case the agency, with the consent of the Minister, should be allowed to appoint consultants.

The amendment, while well meaning, would restrict the agency in what it could or could not do. In the event that there is a vacancy or because of the non-availability of the chief executive the member of staff replacing him or her in the interim period may have grave difficulty in running the company. I cannot accept the amendment as it would cause a difficulty in regard to what we are trying to do in the other section.