Joe O'Toole (Independent)

My objection does not hinge on the employee and employer having some agreed basis for agreeing the appointment, it hinges on the fact that the agreement may not include an electoral process. Will the Minister of State or Senator Quinn state if there is a way of agreeing the appointment that would not include some form of electoral process? One elects somebody by way of putting names forward for election. If only one name is put forward an election does not have to take place, but it still involves an electoral process. If a name or names are not put forward, somebody is selected — this is what I am concerned about. I do not mind there being an agreed basis provided it includes an electoral process of some description. I will be happy enough if the legislation includes the words "democratic" or "electoral".

I am not trying to outlaw an agreement between a good employer and a workforce to the effect that they want to proceed in a different way — that is not my objective. My objective is to ensure that the agreement be made in a democratic way. I cannot think of a way other than a democratic or electoral way. If it exists, it must simply involve selecting an appointee. Perhaps I am missing the point and I therefore want somebody to outline to me the process by which an appointment could be made other than through democratic or electoral means.