Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

The Minister is responsible for appointing board members all of whom must have knowledge or experience of matters relevant to the functions of the board. That is a reasonable provision. All existing disbursement board members are eligible for re-appointment to the new board. The terms of office of board members is set at five years. That is all reasonable. Governments have been known to appoint people to boards since the foundation of the State. I do not see anything wrong in that regard.

All applications will be publicly advertised. Those who apply for and receive funding will also be publicly stated. There is total transparency. Perhaps it is inexperience on the part of some Members that they do not realise this is reasonable legislation.