Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

The Minister, Deputy Reilly, specifically stated that this provision was amended in the Dáil. However, the document I have, which I assumed was the most up-to-date version, does not include that amendment. It is not a particularly contentious matter but it has been raised before. The former Minister for State, John Curran, agreed that councillors could be members of a board in the context of the provisions of the Charities Act 2009. I hope all Departments, in framing legislation, will abandon what is a grossly unfair exclusion of those who serve people well in their local communities. As I said, I will oppose the section in the absence of an amendment on Report Stage.