Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

It was unfortunate that we extended the practice of keeping public representatives off such bodies. There was a good legitimate reason why many Members of the Oireachtas were on committees. I was a member of a fisheries authority for a number of years until legislation was introduced which excluded people like me from being on such authorities. It gave Members of the Oireachtas a deep insight into the activities of many bodies, particularly tourism bodies which have strong regional involvement, as the previous speaker said. I was not enthusiastic about prohibiting by legislation Members of the Oireachtas from sitting on committees. If a Member of the Oireachtas had a keen and legitimate interest in inland fisheries, it would be beneficial both to the Oireachtas and to the body if that person was on the board. I was not enthusiastic about the legislation.

It would be unwise to adopt Senator Quinn's approach because, as he knows, local authorities are involved with State organisations in the development of the tourism product. It is important that this body has the benefit of the views of members of local authorities who have first hand professional knowledge of what is required to develop a tourism product in the region. It would be unwise to introduce such an amendment which would prohibit members of local authorities from being on boards, either at regional or national level. Until recently, local authority members did not receive remuneration of any significance. Even now they only get a small allowance. They have a wide and vast knowledge of tourism, particularly in the regions. I will make further comments when we discuss other sections of the Bill about the effect the new body will have on the regions. It would be detrimental to introduce this proposal. I am not sure the sections we support, which prohibit Members of the Oireachtas and of the European Parliament from being on such bodies, are productive in the long term.