Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate Senator Feargal Quinn on bringing forward the Bill. My fear is that State boards would be made up of an elite group, probably from the same socio-economic background and more than likely would all come from Dublin. It is aspirational to believe that people, and there are great people on State boards, would give of their time for nothing. Many of the people I know are self-employed. They have a business background and give of their time to improve the State board that they represent. It is open to any member of a State board to forgo the remuneration. Given that a provision is already in place whereby one can forgo his or her remuneration, why is there a need for the Bill?

Senator Feargal Quinn comes from a business background. We have much in common but not on the same scale. The Senator is aware that to get the best in any organisation, one has to pay for it. I am sorry, but that is my firm belief. Were this restriction to be introduced, the number of people who would qualify and be interested and give of their time free of charge would be considerably reduced.

It is a positive development that the Minister of State has indicated he will take on board some parts of the Bill in forthcoming legislation. I reiterate that to get best, one has to pay the best. If the Bill was to be enacted, we would find that State boards would probably be made up of retired wealthy individuals. I do not think the socio-economic backgrounds of the whole country would be represented on State boards. As the vast majority of boards meet in Dublin, would it mean that people from Kerry, Cork, Mayo and Donegal would not serve on State boards because of the time involved and the fact that there is no remuneration package? I return to my initial point that to get the best, one has to pay.