Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I compliment Senator Ross on introducing this legislation. The Senator approached me some months ago outlining his concern about this area of work. He put his office working on researching what we might do about it and I did the same. We found a Bill that had been introduced in the other House. We said that we could not really use that legislation because it was a Green Party Bill. We went through it in detail and neither of us could find one word that could be improved in any line of the Bill. I said that we could not really steal it. We would need to give credit where it was due. The Green Party is on the Government side and it is its business to challenge the Government side on issues as they come along.

I checked what then Deputy Boyle said on 27 March 2007 in the other House, which was key to our decision tonight. Speaking about this legislation he said: "The Bill is an attempt to make the process of public appointments more open and transparent". We bought into that. He then said "It is also a challenge to other parties to join the Green Party's initiative on this area of political reform." We also bought into that. We said we could not do better than accept that and with hands across the aisle, do business with the Government party. Let us all move forward together towards an open, transparent Government. I look forward to Senator Boyle and his colleague supporting us in this tonight.

The Dáil debate took place before the general election in 2007. He said "If the election involves merely changing the names and faces of people on the benches opposite, it will be a poor day's work." What can I say? He went on to say: "The Green Party believes changes in the area of political reform are most necessary to reignite public confidence in the political system." This is the reality.

Senator Boyle went on to make a very important point in his speech, which was very appropriate and almost visionary given where we are at the moment. He said:

In the past, appointments to the European Commission, the European Central Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and a score of other bodies were referred to as "Government appointments". We argue that those appointed in this regard are representatives of the State and that there should be a wider process of ratification in respect of them. We suggest that the Government should make its nominations and then put them forward to be ratified by the House.

Hear, hear. Who would argue with that? I would certainly hope that Senator Boyle would come out in support of that tonight, especially given that his name is being mentioned in high places, although that is nothing to do with himself. We have heard it mentioned that the former Minister, Mrs Máire Geoghegan-Quinn might be appointed Commissioner and good luck to her if she is. There is also a view that Senator Boyle might be promoted to the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg. No better man. No one here would be opposed to that in any way. However, we would like to have the opportunity to debate it.

In the debate on this legislation in the Dáil, his seconder on the night, Deputy Gogarty, who is still in the other House said:

I support the work of my colleague, Deputy Boyle, in putting this Bill together. As the House can see, from the outset the Bill was put forward in his name. It is all pretty much his work. Often Bills are initiated in the names of all of the Teachtaí Dála within the parliamentary party, but it is testament to Deputy Boyle's ownership of this Bill and to his capabilities to work with experts and to use his own nous that it was initiated in his name. I say this because I do not want to take any credit for the drawing up of the Bill.

I am sure I also speak for Senator Ross in saying we would not want to be accused of plagiarism here. This is a case of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. We absolutely feel this is a tribute to the work Senator Boyle did. It should not be allowed sit collecting dust anywhere and we should move forward in this way.

An interesting thing has happened. Senator Ross gave a very good example of what happened in the case of FÁS. Here is a better example. The Green Party Minister, Deputy Ryan, spent much time in this House painstakingly going through the Broadcasting Bill. When it came to a discussion on appointing the members of the broadcasting authority and the various boards of TG4, RTE and others, we proposed that those appointments should be made on the basis of the provisions in this Bill - the Green Party Bill or Senator Ross's Bill, whichever way one wants to look at it - and that they should come before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Minister could not concede that point even though he had spoken in favour of it in the Dáil. However, he agreed to have a committee involved in four of the appointments. As a result, for the first time in the history of the State, four members will be appointed to several of these boards by the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, of which I am a member. We have begun the process of advertising these positions, as proposed in this Bill, and the process of dealing with applicants will be monitored by the Commission for Public Service Appointments, with input from members of the committee, with the nominees obliged to appear before a public sitting of the joint committee. The purpose of this is not to grill or embarrass them in any way but rather to afford them an opportunity to demonstrate their experience and knowledge in the area relevant to their nomination. Finally, the nominees' names will be put to the Minister for approval. This is a positive development and is in line with what is proposed in this legislation. Unfortunately, however, the Minister, who has five nominations to make, proposes to proceed in the old fashioned way without any consultation on or examination of his nominees.

At a time of general and extraordinary cynicism of the political process, we are saying to people that there is a better way of doing business. We are proposing a means by which ordinary people can connect with the political process and can have confidence that persons appointed to boards are above and beyond suspicion. I have been appointed to various boards by Ministers and have done my best to discharge my duties in that regard. However, I would have welcomed the opportunity to appear before a committee of the Oireachtas to demonstrate my credentials and justify my appointment. I expect most people would be delighted to show off the expertise that has led to them being nominated to a particular board. I made a point of ensuring that representatives of the two boards on which I currently serve were brought before committees of this House. In one case, there was a grilling by Senator Ross's committee. That is how it should be.

Nobody could disagree with the proposal that the appointments system be opened up so that nominees are afforded an opportunity to present their credentials in terms of background, knowledge and expertise prior to their appointment. Senator Boyle has called for similar transparency in respect of the appointment of the European Commissioner and other high level European Union appointments. There is no reason for Members on the other side of the Chamber to object to that type of transparency. The Government's majority in both Houses will ensure its nominations cannot be overturned. However, these proposals will allow a debate to take place to copperfasten and give credence to those appointments.

I am pleased to second Senator Ross's Bill and to congratulate him on bringing it forward. It is a good day's work. I hope this debate will be conducted in a constructive manner. There is nothing in the Bill that anybody can argue against. Any opposition to it can arise only because the opponent is determined to engage in the wrong type of politics. Let us all work in concert for once. We should do what the Taoiseach has asked us to do many times, namely, work together to find solutions and show a united face to the citizenry. This proposal offers the opportunity for a good night's work for Irish politics.