Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

It is very dangerous ground. It is also dangerous to ignore the desire and need for proper representation of women on boards. If the Senators were Ministers, I would prefer them to be doing the nominations, subject to what is being imposed today, rather than some distant body that I think would be much easier manipulated than any Minister. We are elected to make decisions. We should make them wisely and, if we get them wrong, be held to account. We are at least accountable to the electorate. Other people are not accountable in that way. In the interest of accountability I ask the Senators to accept the layout proposed.