Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I am very pleased that he, as president of ICTU, is not excluded from the social partnership negotiations. As a Member of this House, his position is as significant, if not more so, than membership of any board. I say this in support of his argument.

I will try to encourage the Minister and the Government to examine the position regarding local authority membership. It means that a member of a town council in Boyle in County Roscommon or anywhere else, who might be a scientist or someone who could contribute greatly to the foundation, would be excluded from membership. A person would have to decide if he or she wished to become a member of this board and, having become a member, would have to resign if he or she became a member of a county council.

Under proposed legislation which has not yet been passed, Members of the Oireachtas will be precluded from membership of a local authority.