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

I am satisfied with the proposal in the Bill, which provides for a good balance on the board. The lay majority on the board is important. I remind the House that persons are to be nominated by independent bodies and must have a set of skills, as laid down in the Bill. While the Legal Services Regulatory Authority will be independent of Parliament, I have no doubt its representatives will appear before the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality to discuss the authority's work when the annual reports are produced. I have no doubt this will be possible in the early days to ensure the joint committee familiarises itself with the persons nominated by independent bodies.