Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This came up in the climate Bill and the change was made in respect of that Bill. There is capacity to take on board persons who are not part of the commission for consultation. It is important that those persons on a sub-committee who may not go through the rigorous process commissioners go through also make a declaration of interest. This is so someone with strong interests in a particular online provider and who may have useful expertise will not find himself or herself part of a sub-committee or delegated function, or linked to the discussion of a delegated function, without declaring an interest. It is a matter of transparency. Amendments quite similar to this were taken on board in the climate Bill.