Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State's decision to allow members of local authorities to be board members. The Government trend has been to exclude them from boards. Fianna Fáil's hypocrisy was evident when it voted to preclude local authority members in the Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008. The Government should reverse its decision and redress the imbalance.

On a non-political level, it is important we recognise that councillors involved in charities often bring with them a set of skills and experiences. We must learn from the FÁS situation. The authority should not be a political cumann for Fianna Fáil. We must use it wisely. Some people in the charitable sector have vast experience that should be availed of by the new authority. I hope the Minister of State will not use the board as a reward for people who donate to or support Fianna Fáil. A wrong decision, it would detract from the consensual approach of the Bill. I welcome the decision to include local authority members and I hope other Ministers and Ministers of State will decide likewise.