Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I am not disposed to accept the amendment. As the Senator noted, the amendment seeks to amend the provisions setting out the panels from which members are appointed to a board by removing reference to the appointment of a civil servant from the Department. Essentially, the amendment means that no civil servant appointment would be made to the board.

The new groupings of bodies from which members are to be appointed to the board are the result of careful thought and are well balanced. The removal of a civil servant would upset the balance between the public, private and community and voluntary sectors. No difficulty has ever arisen in respect of the appointment of a civil servant or the actions of any civil servant following his or her appointment. The current civil service appointee has had a distinguished career on the board and is well regarded and the same may be said for her predecessors. I am not disposed to accept the amendment because the system has worked well and there has never been a problem.