Dan Boyle (Green Party)

Given that I receive e-mails and other correspondence daily telling me about my supposed loss of principle - I am told I have performed a U-turn on everything I have ever believed in and can no longer consider myself a decent human being in any form - it is not new for me to have to respond in this way. As a Member of this House, I have to do it every day.

I would like to outline how the Green Party in government has approached the idea of public appointments. I accept that the system is largely unchanged. Government action tends to be taken on the basis of the respective strengths of the majority and minority partners. We are in a better position to offer public positions in those Departments where there are Green Party Ministers. The Green Party uses an internal process, involving a committee with external membership, when it is asked to fill positions on State boards. Members of the Green Party, non-governmental organisations and the public have responded to a letter I sent out as party chairman a number of years ago in which I asked people to submit their CVs for consideration when appointments are being made to boards. A number of people whose political backgrounds have nothing to do with the Green Party were appointed through that process. A number of significant Labour Party supporters have been appointed to State bodies on the recommendation of Green Party Ministers.