Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 16, line 18, after “executive” where it secondly occurs to insert the following:“in accordance with the guidelines on appointments to public boards published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform”.

The formulation of amendment No. 4 contains the words of the Minister when he was in the House on Committee Stage. We also referred to the Howlin reforms. As it stands, the Bill provides that, "The directors of a transferred company ... other than the chief executive, shall be appointed by the local authority chief executive." On the previous occasion, we were concerned that this was a draconian power. The Minister's formulation, as provided here, suggests how the power would be exercised. Is it useful for the Minister to have it in the Bill given his response to concerns we expressed on Committee Stage? The purpose of the amendment is to put context in the Bill in respect of what are fairly sweeping powers for one person to appoint eight people to a board.