Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. That is a very good point. Given their role, there is no reason local authority officials would not be able to be members. They may very well be ex officiomembers because some of them may have a data role within their local authorities. For example, as is their role as constituted under the managers' orders in local authorities throughout the country, they may be responsible for freedom of information or the handling information. They do not have a mandate, they do not stand for election and it is not regarded as a conflict of interest. I do not think anybody would have a difficulty with that.