Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Senator Buttimer has covered most of what I wished to say. Charity begins at home, and that is certainly true as far as Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are concerned. Rather then precluding members of local authorities, I hope the Minister will go the whole hog and provide for the appointment of a local authority member to the board, whether from the Local Authority Members' Association, the General Council of County Councils, the Association of County and City Councils or the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland. Perhaps the Minister will consider the inclusion of an amendment to that effect on Report Stage.