Under section 26, HIQA is required to recruit its employees in accordance with the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. This amendment allows a transitional arrangement lasting three months, or a lesser time specified by the Minister, where the provisions of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 do not apply. Senators will appreciate that HIQA will need to recruit personnel immediately it is established. Under this amendment it will be in a position to do so pending its obtaining a recruitment licence under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. In addition, the interim HIQA has already begun the recruitment process for certain staff with a view to having as much preparatory work carried out as possible ahead of HIQA's establishment. The amendment will allow HIQA to appoint such staff if the recruitment process has not been completed by the interim HIQA before the establishment of HIQA itself.