Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

For the board to work the chief executive must have an important role and be a member of the board. It is reasonable that someone of that calibre should be a member of the board. It lessens the chief executive's effectiveness in dealing with the board if he or she is not a full member of it.

I compliment our colleague, Senator O'Toole, who is a member of the interim board. I note the Bill does not include a provision to exclude Oireachtas Members or local authority members from membership of the board, which is unusual. Other Bills have excluded Members of the Oireachtas and local authority members from the boards of statutory bodies. If such people are suitably qualified and are nominated there is no reason why they should not be there. Members of this House, for example, who have the relevant experience would be most suitable for membership of the PIAB. I compliment the Tánaiste on not excluding her Oireachtas colleagues from membership of the board.