Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

On Committee Stage, I tabled an amendment to section 10 proposing that three members of the property services regulatory authority "shall be persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, are representatives of persons who provide property services", such as auctioneers, letting agents and property management service providers. During subsequent discussions on the amendment, it was suggested that it would be appropriate to provide that "not more than" three members of the authority could be representatives of the property services sector, in order to avoid a situation arising in which the sector being regulated would be over-represented. I indicated I was prepared to return to the House on Report Stage with an appropriate proposal. Amendment No. 2, which mirrors the text of the amendment tabled by the Labour Party, makes the required change to section 10. As I said on Committee Stage, I am not in favour of being too prescriptive about the composition of the boards. It can make a Minister's task of appointing a competent board much more difficult and become an obstacle to achieving the necessary gender balance.

Section 10(3) already provides that in making appointments to the authority, the Minister shall have regard to their having knowledge or experience in consumer affairs, business, finance, management or administration or any other subject which would be of assistance to the authority in performing its functions. I am not in favour of professional consumer representatives in this regard. We are all consumers of goods and services. Most Members will have used a property service at some stage when buying a property or renting accommodation. It is not a specialised skill. The Bill's provisions are sufficient to ensure the appointment of a high calibre authority in due course.