Seanad debates
Friday, 4 July 2003
Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Bill 2002 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages.
In the original Bill there was an exclusion clause regarding membership by public representatives. The Chair would be interested in this also. If a public representative is qualified, there is no reason that he or she should be excluded from a foundation because he or she was elected to a local authority, the Dáil or Seanad. It is strange that there is no exclusion clause for Members of the Oireachtas in regard to membership of prison visiting committees. It is right that Members should serve on them if they feel they could serve in that capacity. I asked about this issue on Second Stage. Will the Minister of State clarify whether the exclusion clause remains part of the Bill? As bankrupts and others were excluded I thought councillors were also. Perhaps I am making a good pitch for re-election here by trying to ensure that councillors would be allowed to be members of the foundation.
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