Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

The only questions that should be asked when a person is being appointed are what can each member of a board contribute to the organisation and will they add value. Does the Minister of State realise people are willing to be voluntary appointees of boards without any allowance or expenses? I was a director of the Galway Airport board, where I was glad to contribute. There are many more like me. If they do not want to do it without an allowance or expenses, perhaps they are not needed.

On a broader note, no public service senior management role should be automatically rewarded with annual bonuses. All bonuses should be earned and only paid retrospectively based on outputs and outcomes achieved. It is for that reason I want to know what the taxpayer has got in return for all the money expended on the space expedition. It is true there are many in the public service who are enterprising but sometimes the permanent, pensionable job acts as a de-motivator for them. I have no difficulty with them getting a bonus as long as their work is serving the nation and of value to it. The Minister of State needs to act. What he must do is not rocket science.