Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I agree with the Minister of State's point on ministerial appointments. However, the point raised by Senator Buttimer must be addressed in another way. We have to think differently in this regard. If this were in the UK, a public advertisement for an appointments process would be taken out, as one often sees in the British broadsheets. The other way has been dealt with in this committee before. I am not asking that this be done now although it could be examined. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, is examining the powers and functions of Seanad Éireann in another context. There is a requirement in modern democracies that the establishment of a tribunal such as that would be washed through a committee or structure. I would go halfway between the points made by Senator Buttimer and the Minister of State. I would leave the appointment with the Minister because we do not need another body to do it, otherwise we would be back in the same problem, but it could be overseen perhaps by a committee of the Houses. The Government accepted a report two years ago suggesting that people appointed to public bodies could come before a select committee of this House. That would keep it away from the Dáil in the sense that it would be less political. People could show their form and put on record what the Minister of State is talking about.

Regarding FÁS and the Committee of Public Accounts, one would ask the chair of that board what stress tests he or she would set up after taking it over to ensure it was working properly? That would mean that people must do their work beforehand and be committed to it. I am not proposing that but I would like greater awareness of that approach to deal with the legitimate and valid points raised by Senator Buttimer. That would also protect the Minister, who could act clearly in moving forward in this way.