Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It occurs to me that this would be a necessary provision and that the amendments the Minister is making are acceptable as tidying up amendments. No matter what view one takes of the commission, these provisions would have to be in place. It is hard to see how they could be opposed on their merits, even if one has strong reservations about the fact that some of the officeholders are deemed to be ineligible to be chairperson of any of the committees of the commission or the commission. Subject to whatever Senator Ivana Bacik will say, I do not see any basis on which to oppose the amendments.