John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

The two amendments are related, although mine is slightly different. They are designed to ensure the Oireachtas would be enabled to scrutinise whoever was appointed to the board in the future. The Labour Party amendment refers to a Dáil committee whereas mine refers to the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment which should have the final say. It is time the Government not only published advertisements in newspapers seeking suitably qualified persons, with which we all agree, but that it also opened the process to complete scrutiny by the Oireachtas by allowing the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment to have the final say on appointments to the board.

Senator Ryan has correctly pointed out that, ultimately, the Government's proposed new appointments mechanism does not mean the primary qualification to be a member of a board will not be friendship with the Minister for the day or political affiliation. That is not acceptable in this day and age, although numerous people with political affiliations have fulfilled their functions correctly and admirably on State bodies during the years. However, a new approach is needed to the appointment of board members and this legislation is the correct vehicle to get the ball rolling. The amendments seek to introduce a new level of transparency in appointments to the board of FÁS in the future and I urge the Minister of State to accept them.