Paul Bradford (Renua Ireland) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make an observation on the appointments process. There has been much reference here to the work of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. Oireachtas committees in the main have been quite effective over the past decade or so since the committee structure was improved and enhanced. What has been proposed here is that the members shall be appointed by the Government using a resolution of the Dáil and Seanad.Over the years, such resolutions have generally been passed without debate, although a row sometimes takes place on the floor of the Dáil or Seanad about whether to vote on them. Will the Minister consider introducing an amendment on Report Stage to provide that the appointees be nominated by the Government and that the appropriate committee - in this case, I presume it would be the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality - would engage with the nominees. It is practically the norm nowadays that chairpersons-designate of State boards appear before the appropriate committee for debate and dialogue. I am not aware of any case in which a committee expressed dissatisfaction with a nominee. From the point of view of political reform and the work of the average Oireachtas Member, as opposed to Ministers who sit around the Cabinet table, it would be useful to keep the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality engaged in this process through dialogue and discussion with the nominees before their formal appointment. I ask the Minister to consider my proposal before Report Stage.