David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

An issue has struck me and I do not mean this to be personal to the Minister. In terms of appointments to boards, we have the case of the appointment of the Fine Gael councillor in Donegal to a board for election purposes. That was under this Minister. It was a very blatant political stroke and everybody, including the Taoiseach, has now admitted that. I think we ought to be protected against that kind of thing happening. Even decent Ministers can stumble somewhat.This recollection makes me much stronger in support of the amendment. Of course, it should be independent and not political. A Fine Gael candidate in a Seanad by-election was turfed in as chairman of the National Concert Hall because they had no experience except of changing tyres in a petrol station in Ramelton or somewhere.