Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

For the reasons I have outlined, we have tried to keep the criteria as broad as possible to ensure that persons who see that their area of expertise is not included will not feel they are excluded and cannot apply, whether that is environmental law or another area. I would argue that there is a huge focus on and need to have expertise in the area of family law, which raises the question of whether that should be included as well. Business, finance and public service cover as broad a range as possible, as well as the specific amendments set out by the Senators. Those points apply to all of the amendments, which are very similar in that they seek to set out the provisions in a more prescribed way. What I have tried to do is to keep the criteria as broad as possible to include as many people as possible and not be specific as to who can or cannot be part of the commission.