Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I changed my mind. I am irrepressible. Earlier, we discussed the eligibility criteria for membership of boards or committees of boards. Section 19 states:

(1) The Board may—

(a) establish committees to provide assistance and advice to the Board in relation to the performance of its functions, and

(b) determine the membership and terms of reference of each committee.

(2) The Board may appoint persons to a committee who are not members of the Board but have special knowledge and experience related to the purpose of the committee.

That could mean anything because the board could set up as many committees as it likes. However, members of local authorities are also precluded from membership of such committees. That is carrying the matter too far. Under the provisions we discussed earlier, a member of a local authority is precluded from membership of a specialist committee established, for example, to deal with concerns over planning in an area, where such specialists may be required. If the Minister of State wants an additional argument to use with the Minister, Deputy Harney, he should examine the section for establishing such specialised committees. The idea that a member of a local authority would be precluded from membership, when they might have particular expertise, is carrying it too far.