Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 18, subsection (1), between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:

"(c) The proposed Board Members shall go before an oral hearing at the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to allow that committee to direct questions to the proposed Board Members as to their competence for that office having regard to experience and/or qualifications as set out in section 9 of this Part.".

The Minister and Senators will recall that in my Second Stage speech I welcomed the fact that the Minister will give a critical role to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the appointment of the board of the broadcasting authority of Ireland. I do not propose to elaborate on this any further. This amendment asks that we take a bold step forward, however, and give it further expression and authority. I ask that the Oireachtas joint committee hold an oral hearing to be attended by all of the Minister's nominees to the board at which they would be questioned on areas related to their competency for membership of the board. Whether they belonged to the specific sectors set out in the Bill would be established, as would whether they represent a union or another interest group. Their competency and knowledge in the broadcasting sphere also would be established.

The nominees would answer basic questions on the sector they represent, their competency in the broadcasting area and their suitability to be members of the authority. Qualifications or experience claimed in a given sphere, such as music or culture which are mentioned in the Bill, would be examined. It would not examine extraneous material such as private lives or matters outside the remit of the committee. It would establish suitability for membership of the broadcasting authority of Ireland.

This would further public confidence in the process of appointing public boards. I know the Minister is innovative and this is a great opportunity for him to go a stage further. I appeal to him to take this amendment on board. It would allay public cynicism and let us be frank about the great cynicism among the general mass of people about how we appoint people to State boards, the clandestine nature of the appointment process, the fact people may not necessarily be qualified for the board of which they are a member and the fact that subsequently they may not participate wholesomely in the board. Public cynicism must be allayed to improve confidence in our democratic system.

We need competence on the board given the serious nature of broadcasting which was discussed at great length on Second Stage and rightly so. We want the highest form of competence and calibre of commitment on the board which we want to reflect the sectors set out in the Bill. The board would be transparent and open and win public confidence in the system. It would be another advancement on appointing four people on the recommendation of the Oireachtas committee. It would set a wonderful precedent.

I am convinced about this and I would be prepared to accept amendments on Report Stage to ensure extraneous material would not be examined and people would not be subject to witch hunts or inquisitions of a tabloid journalism nature. However, in the interests of taxpayers who will fund the operation, the democratic system, this House and the Minister's bona fides, which are unquestioned, nominees should be subject to proper questioning on their competence, the sector they represent and their commitment to the broadcasting process. Any reasonable candidate for membership of the board should stand up readily under that process.

I have no problem with the setting of parameters or guidelines to negotiate a methodology for it. I am well aware of the risks within and I would like them to be eliminated. However, I appeal to the Minister to go a step further. It would be a brave step for democracy and the broadcasting sphere and it would be appropriate to take it in the Seanad. The Minister should do this and I am prepared to have my amendment refined if that is necessary. If the Minister and his officials think it needs tweaking, I do not mind once they accept the principle and commence the process of an open inquiry into board appointments. This process should extend to all State boards. Would it not make for a wonderful new society and a confident people? Is it not time it happened to eradicate cynicism about such appointments, cronyism, jobbery and patronage of the wrong type? Patronage is all right when it is meritocratic and based on commitment to the nation and civic well-being. Patronage of a sinister type must be eliminated. I appeal to the Minister to accept this worthwhile amendment, which is meant in the best sense. He will be aware of how positive I was on Second Stage.