Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I know the Leas-Chathaoirleach would like me to go further in this regard. I intend to speak on the matter on Committee Stage. My personal experience of the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, is that he will not exclude the possibility of allowing councillors to be on the authority. That does not mean they have to be selected as members of the authority or that there has to be a quota of councillors or anybody else on the board.

I commend the fact that there is a requirement to have gender balance on the board. Any board without a 50% representation of both sexes is not in accordance with the ethos of this House. There should be a fair representation of both sexes on the board. I commend the Minister of State who is a new, young Minister. He will be remembered for all time in this House and outside it for this excellent legislation.