Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

This has come a long way and no one has cried halt. There has been consultation along the way and people have not stopped it. The Senators are raising an objection at the last minute.

The issue of port users was raised. The high level review believed such people could have a conflict of interest and it was recommended that they should not be members of the boards. I accept that before 1996, as Senator Cummins stated, people were on committees representing different interests. A port user, who might have direct knowledge and management and industry experience and could make a useful contribution, can still be made a board member but not of the port where he or she is a significant user.