Joe O'Toole (Independent)

We are at the point in the lifetime of a Government when it starts to fill vacancies on boards of directors. We have previously said that it would be appropriate for this House to have a vetting function in the appointment of directors. If people are to be appointed to the board of Aer Lingus, would it not be useful to do the same as other democracies, where the vacancies are publicly advertised and those who apply and those who are proposed by the Minister come before a committee of this House or a joint committee to show their expertise, experience, skill and independence? If we were to do so, it would be a major step towards engendering new trust and confidence in the political system. We should have a debate soon on the issue of filling directorships in State and semi-State bodies.

I wish to raise another issue briefly. The Government made an extraordinary decision yesterday regarding the European treaty. This House discussed approximately five Bills last year concerning co-operation on policing matters between various European countries, but I do not know where we stand anymore. We passed legislation which made it possible for somebody in Ireland to be required to give evidence and be part of an investigation in another country. At that stage, I specifically asked the Minister if there was not a difficulty in terms of the Napoleonic code being married to our common law process. I was told that this could be done without difficulty, yet suddenly there is a problem. Surely there is a need for us to discuss this matter now. It should have been discussed before the Government took a decision on it. This is how the first Nice referendum was lost because people took decisions and then expected support afterwards. I do not understand why the Government made that decision but it should have initiated a debate so that we would have known where we were going. I will be slow to support something which makes life easier for criminals, particularly when we have taken action previously to accommodate movement between states. If that means our leaving the Schengen agreement, in a final position, then we should be sufficiently big, strong and independent to do that. Just because the British want to have people in uniforms at their borders does not mean we must follow suit.