Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In response to the question on whether the director will be a civil servant, I repeat that the director may not necessarily be a civil servant. Therefore, the director may not necessarily be covered by the already-passed section 36. The director may be a civil servant or the director may not be a civil servant. This will depend on the Public Appointments Service process, as referred to by Senator Norris. I expect it will in the normal course of events be organised by the Public Appointments Service.

The second point Senator McDowell raised was in respect of the term of appointment. In the normal course of events, there will be a term of appointment. It can be five years, seven years or six years. The rationale chosen in respect of this is in accordance with the original general scheme of the Bill, which was first circulated in 2016. It refers to a renewable period of five years. If Senators are not happy with that, they have a course of action open to them. In the circumstances, the balance is deemed to be in favour of a five-year term which can be renewed.