Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 12 is intended to provide clarity as to the position of the chief executive officer of the authority. On foot of the amendment, he or she will be a civil servant of the State, not the Minister. This is in line with the arrangements that have been put in place for the chief executive officers of other State agencies. Instead of being contracted, this amendment clarifies that the CEO will be a civil servant.