Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I support Senator Browne's comments. There are many bodies from which I am legally excluded, some of which have to do with education and for some of which I am qualified to be a member, due to my membership of the Oireachtas. It seems to be fine to appoint the public relations adviser of the Minister for Transport to the Higher Education Authority but not to appoint a Member of the Oireachtas who is otherwise qualified. I do not speak about the general principle as it relates to the Health Service Executive, but to the suggestion that an elected representative in the Oireachtas of university graduates who happens to be, as was often the case in the past, an eminent academic, should be excluded from a body in an area in which he or she has considerable expertise. It is not only offensive, but daft.