Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The amendment is self-explanatory. It relates to the Public Appointments Service, PAS. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I know he has used the PAS in making appointments and gave a commitment yesterday that it will be used in order that appeals will be completely independent. The issue, however, is that Ministers change. One cannot future-proof against ministerial changes. I speak from experience on this issue. When we were debating the climate Act, we argued about the PAS and were given a guarantee that it would be used but then, in effect, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, appointed two people whom he knew to the Climate Change Advisory Council. It is important that the PAS is used, especially given the experience homeowners have had to date with the State in the context of the first redress scheme and now this one. It would be a gesture that the appeals process will be independent.