Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Bhí an ceart ag an Aire Stáit go mbeadh seans againn daonlathas nó easpa daonlathais a phlé níos déanaí, nuair a bheidh na leasuithe eile os ár gcomhair agus tá sé tábhachach iad a chur agus a phlé. Is é an bunús atá leis an leasú os ár gcomhair ná fáil amach na cáilíochtaí nó an stádas atá ag na baill atá tofa le bheith ar bhord an údaráis.

The Minister made an important point when he said it would be appropriate to have experts on a board such as this one. Nobody can disagree with that but on the other hand we have a discerning and sophisticated electorate which punishes when punishment is due and rewards when reward is due. That is the way it works, and that is also true of the Gaeltacht areas. When people had the opportunity democratically to elect the members onto the Údarás, they would examine their record in terms of what they had achieved, their qualifications and so on.

We cannot be blamed either if sometimes we look on experts with a jaundiced eye. I know a man who is a small builder and he used to calculate the cost of a contract on the back of a cigarette box, and he is still in business. I know builders who had everything going for them, and all the paraphernalia-----