Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I agree with Senator Mansergh's conclusion. We cannot be selective in saying one person has to have this, that or the other. If we were to go down that road we would have to be specific and say that each member must have certain expertise or some area of expertise. The proposed amendment is too restrictive in the demands it makes on the composition of the board. It would restrict the board, the Minister in his or her appointments, and the Government in its consideration of the board. The agency has a unique financial remit which will require specific expertise. The Minister for Finance, in his advice to Government for appointments to the board, will be mindful of the requirement for gender balance as provided for in section 10(11) and will endeavour to ensure that appropriate expertise is represented on the board of the National Development Finance Agency, drawing from as wide a pool of potential appointees as possible across the nation. The Government's record in making appointments to boards is clear. We appoint the best people from across the nation and have a strong commitment to gender balance.