Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for setting out in so far as he could what the future board will look like. We have a fair idea of that. He said there will be continuity and the new board will consist of quite a number of the current membership of the interim board.

The new board will be a management rather than a representational board. Is the view of the Minister of State and his Department that a board cannot be both? Could a person representing a professional or staff interest not have a background or an ability in management, or is it the view that management people must have a background in banking, economics or business? We are beginning to see what the new board will look like.

In regard to the CEO being an ex officio member of the board, the board is to be the governing body. Is there not a case to be made for the board having a supervisory role in regard to the CEO, or is that not the case? The board does not have a supervisory role in regard to the CEO.