Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I ask that this be considered, particularly with the Seanad reform group due to report on recommendations of this type in the very near future.

I was particularly disappointed with some of the other contributors who obviously did not hear my opening comments in this debate and the way I was trying to frame it. The spirit of most of the debate was welcoming to what was being achieved and I hope we will leave the discussion on that basis.

There are two subsequent points to cover. One concerns the role of local authority members, which I know, given the method of election of the majority of Members in this House, comes up for regular consideration. I am agnostic on the question of whether there should be specified within individual pieces of legislation a set number of local authority members or none for particular State bodies and agencies.