Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I fully accept the goodwill and good intentions of the Minister of State and of those who have spoken against the amendment. I accept what the Minister of State says about the legal advice available to the board. However, if the PIAB is to be given the powers under this legislation to review legal procedures and processes, then the presence of a Law Society member on the board could have been viewed as a balancing mechanism, as Senator Maurice Hayes suggested, because one could raise a question about someone from the Insurance Federation of Ireland being on the board.

It would be beneficial and useful for someone with experience as a member of the Law Society or the Bar Council to be a member of the board, acting independently. We should not continue to run down the legal profession, although I do not think we are doing so. Senator Mansergh noted his appreciation of the profession and we all appreciate it. I accept that there is good and bad in every segment of society.

It was for these reasons I thought this amendment would be useful.