Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

Of course, that is not the case at all. We ought to recognise that there are people who are very well qualified who may also have a party affiliation. The practice in filling panels of these kinds has been that the vast majority of nominees do not have strong political affiliation. There have been instances in the recent past where people who have been appointed to the chair of bodies have come from Senator Phelan's party. I am thinking of former Deputy Alan Dukes and the ten year review of agricultural policy.

I welcome the Bill. It is important from a domestic point of view because of the difficulties we have had with banks. It is equally important as underpinning our now very important financial services sector which has come from absolutely nowhere in 1987 to become a major and significant European and international financial services centre.