I move amendment No. 1:
In page 14, lines 4 to 8, to delete all words after "Minister" and substitute "from a list of names submitted by the Irish Farmers Association as representative of growers".
Bord Glas Bill, 1989: Report and Final Stages.
Acting Chairman
On Report Stage the amendment must be seconded.
As a matter of courtesy, in order to allow the amendment to be discussed, I am happy to second it.
On the question of the method of board selection, we have been through this in the Dáil and, as one will see from the Bill coming before the Seanad, there has been an acceptance of the provision that we are making in the legislation. The amendment which Senator Raftery is proposing specifies one organisation. When we consider the implications of specifying in law one organisation it would be creating a very dangerous precedent apart altogether from the changes that the passage of time might bring. While the IFA are a vibrant organisation representing the agricultural industry, the interests of the primary producers in the agricultural and horticultural industries at this time, there is no guarantee that the name of the organisation might not change in ten or 15 or 20 years time. In my view, that is the great weakness of the amendment as it is presented here.
The process of consultation, which is the underlying thrust of what Senator Raftery has in mind, has been ongoing. At various meetings with the IFA I have suggested that they submit a list of six names to us for consideration for board membership and as of now they have submitted a list of six people for consideration for board membership. By asking them to submit the list for board membership there is no commitment with regard to the numbers that will be selected or otherwise. Having regard to their position, it is only fair that they should be asked to submit those names and they have agreed to do that and have done it.
There will be other organisations who will have an interest in board membership and if they wish to submit names for consideration the same facility will be extended to them.
In many ways we are fortunate in the case of this legislation that we have had the experience of having the interim board in place for the best part of three years. The numbers selected for the board originally are more than is provided or in the membership of the new statutory board. Nonetheless, the experience gained and gleaned in the last three years will be of immense benefit to us in the process of selection. There is sufficient flexibility and sufficient recognition of the importance of getting the equilibrium of the board right in the proposals we are making in the Schedule. I would ask the Seanad to go along with it on that basis.
In the light of what the Minister has said, I can see the difficulties of naming one particular organisation. I put down this amendment just to tease out the issue. I ask the Minister if we will have the same sort of procedure as existed in the past with ACOT and AFT whereby names that were submitted by the farming organisations were, as I understand it, automatically accepted by the Minister? If that is the situation, if the Minister could give me an assurance that names submitted by representatives of the growers would be accepted, then I would be happy to withdraw this amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Bill reported without amendment and received for final consideration.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."
I would like to thank the Minister for the way in which he has initiated this legislation and dealt with it in a very efficient manner. I look forward to An Bord Glas working in the interests of the horticultural industry of this country and I can see great times ahead for the industry under the guidance of this board. I wish it every success and I thank the Minister for the efforts he has made in setting it up.
I should like to make one point on the Final Stage of this Bill, that is that I was disappointed the Minister did not reply to many of the points which I made on Second Stage. It would be useful if the principle this Bill introduces of setting up boards of this sort be dealt with by the Minister and by the Government when it is raised by Members in this House.
The point I was making was quite simple. I do not wish to oppose this Bill. Some of the content is extremely good but boards of this sort, and in particular the section Senator Professor Raftery was trying to amend just now, should not consist of people who are political appointees. They should consist of people who are experts in the field.
I am under certain constraints but I refer Senator Ross to the report and I am sure the various points are covered adequately.
I would like to take the opportunity of thanking the Members of the House for their courtesy and co-operation with regard to the passage of the Bill. Both in the Dáil and Seanad courtesy and co-operation have been the order of the day and we are very grateful to the Members of both Houses for that.
Question put and agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 5.20 p.m. and resumed at 6.30 p.m.