Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is remarkable. I will remove the word "scandal" and go to the word "remarkable". It is remarkable that the staff the director will be in charge of will be civil servants under section 30(6) whereas the director will not, even though he or she will be appointed by the commission following a Public Appointments Service selection process. I have had no good reason advanced to me as to why he or she should not have civil servant status. I ask again for some indication as to why a satisfactory director has to go having served ten years. To say that other people are in this position does not answer that question. Other people are not the director of an office full of civil servants. I want to know what the policy is that underlies the proposition that the person could not do more than ten years and I am not receiving an answer.