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

This amendment seeks to add an extra layer. Section 21 already provides that "The Government may remove a lay member from office [on] one or more of the grounds specified". There is a requirement for a resolution to be passed by each House of the Oireachtas, including the Seanad, before that is done. This additional safeguard is already in the Bill. I think that adding the committee on top of that would be overburdensome. I am not sure whether it is necessary at this stage. That it will have to go through both Houses will add a layer of protection when somebody has to be removed.