David Norris (Independent)

I wish to deal with a point I raised previously about this type of legislation, that is, definitions. Subsection (6) states: "A person ceases to hold the office of Legal Services Ombudsman when the person — (a) is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann,". There is confusion in this provision. The university Senators, for example, must be nominated by ten graduates in good standing. The word "nominate" is used in that context, but it would be more accurate and clear if the provision used the word "appointed". When I teased this matter out on a previous occasion, I was told that what was meant was not the process of nomination to stand for election to the Seanad but what is effectively appointment by the Taoiseach, under his right to appoint 11 Members of the House. The provision would be much clearer if it stated "appointed" as a Member of Seanad Éireann.