Seanad debates

Thursday, 29 May 2003

Companies (Auditing and Accountancy) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages.

 

10:30 am

Photo of Feargal QuinnFeargal Quinn (Independent)

I thank Senator White.

There is a difference involved here and the first situation deals with five years rather than one. There are very valuable people who may have served a company and who may have left and become non-executive directors. They may be exactly the kind of person one wants on an audit committee because they are no longer working for the company and are outside it. Five years is a long period and I am not locked into having one year rather than five. If an executive in the company is on the board and then leaves, ceasing to be an executive, but he or she then becomes a non-executive director, he or she would be so closely aligned to the company it would be difficult to regard them as unbiased or not linked to it. That was why I felt five years was too long and suggested one year.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.