Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

My remarks are not directly on the point but relates to the Top Level Appointment Committee TLAC terms to which the Minister referred. The TLAC made changes. TLAC was described to me before as being akin to the Freemasons - that is the way appointments are done. I think the Minister needs to go further. I would remove some of the civil servants who still remain on TLAC. Furthermore, I do not see why a Minister should not be on that committee. Even on a VEC interview board, one will have members of the VEC on it. We live in a democracy. We may criticise Ministers for appointing people to boards but at the end of the day they are elected by the people and are vested with those powers. While this is not directly on the amendment I think my point is worth further consideration.