Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 20, before section 18, to insert the following new section:

18.—(1) The Commission shall promote best practice in recruitment.

(2) The Commission shall, at regular intervals, conduct both random and systematic assessments of recruitment practices being implemented pursuant to this Act in order to determine whether best practice is being adhered to.".

The purpose of this amendment is to impose an obligation of best practice on the commission so that it will begin its work under no illusion that it merely represents a continuation of the situation since 1956. It must begin with a new mandate and a new sense of direction and such a sense is absent from the Bill. In addition, the commission should continually conduct both random and systematic assessments of recruitment practices. The amendment also allows for systems of reward that recognise high performance.