Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I think we are straying well outside the terms of the debate, but important issues are being raised and I will respond to them.

One of the changes I brought about in the structure of the TLAC, and not without some resistance, is that the majority of TLAC members come from outside the public service. The majority of every interview board comes from outside the public service. The chair of the TLAC is a non-civil servant and the chair of the interview board is a non-civil servant. I do not think it would be appropriate for a Minister to serve on TLAC. That is my personal view. We need to ensure the separation in terms of not politicising Civil Service or public service appointments. That would lead to a great deal of difficulty.