Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

A truism that is constantly put forward in the context of all boards is that we need boards to be much smaller. It is a message that comes out again and again but without evidence.In general, with regard to "nothing about us without us" and all these other principles for which we argue in different ways, there should be an openness to moving to 13 if that is the case. It is not so much to the Minister solely but I have noticed a pattern in State appointments. There is a narrowing and I worry about the weighting of the importance of having a small board. It is important there is at least an equivalent lay number of majority but I also think something can be added by those professions, so I think 13 is something that should be looked at. We will come to it later but I note one thing that could free up a space. The Minister will note that I suggest later that the Attorney General should be solely an observer and should not be a member in that context. This could open space within the constraints placed upon us in terms of adding numbers.

I also note that regarding the categorisation of lay persons, I am worried that there is some narrowness in terms of aspects of the lay experience and that we will end up with a very narrow contingent of the lay population who qualify because certain professions and expertise seem to be very strongly privileged over other very relevant areas of expertise but we will come to those amendments in due course.