Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. I was nominated by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland and elected to the disability panel. I am an example of somebody who reflects the panel to which I have been elected. I would like political parties to make a greater effort - they should be obliged to do so - to nominate people who reflect each type of panel. For example, the Agricultural Panel should deal with agricultural issues but that is a broad church which includes environmental issues, food safety and marketing products made in Ireland. This country exports billions of euros worth of product as a result of agriculture and that makes the panel important.

The Leas-Cathaoirleach was elected to the Industrial and Commercial Panel and he represents the panel very well due to his background.