Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The great thing about this country is that it is a democracy and when one votes, one does so in secret. That is the way it will stay.

I am responsible for appointments to the board, which function I carried out based on merit. That is what I am responsible for. I have listened closely and taken the criticisms on board over the last two weeks in relation to board appointments. I acknowledge that this should have been done differently. I have already moved to put a new system in place in my Department and I will follow those procedures. It was out of respect for the House that I came here two weeks ago at very short notice. I was maybe lacking on that occasion, for which I apologise.