I move amendment No. 7:
In page 8, subsection (1)(b), to delete lines 39 to 46, and in page 9 to delete lines 1 to 11 and substitute the following:
"(aa) (i) The Minister shall prescribe not less than 2 organisations which, in the Minister’s opinion, are representative of each of the following classes of organisation:
(A) organisations which, in the Minister's opinion, are concerned with the promotion of the development of aquaculture or are representative of persons carrying on the business of developing aquaculture;
(B) organisations which, in the Minister's opinion, are representative of persons whose professions or occupations relate to agriculture;
(C) organisations which, in the Minister's opinion, are representative of persons concerned with the protection and preservation of the environment;
(D) organisations which, in the Minister's opinion, are concerned with the promotion of regional tourism;
(E) organisations which, in the Minister's opinion, are concerned with the protection and preservation of the national heritage within the meaning of the Heritage Act, 1995; and
(F) organisations which, in the Minister's opinion, are concerned with the promotion of regional or local development.
(ii) The Minister shall appoint as members of a regional board from amongst those persons nominated by each of the classes of organisations prescribed under subparagraph (i) one member to represent each class of organisation, or in default of such nominations after the Minister has given each a reasonable opportunity to do so, then from among such persons as the Minister thinks fit.
(iii) An organisation prescribed under subparagraph (i) shall, whenever so requested by the Minister, select such number of candidates (not being less than 2, of whom one shall be a woman) as the Minister may specify for appointment as members of a regional board and shall inform the Minister of the names of the candidates selected and of the reasons why, in the opinion of the organisation, they are suitable for such appointment.
(iv) The Minister shall not appoint a person to be a member unless the person was amongst those selected pursuant to a request under subparagraph (iii) in relation to that appointment, but-
(A) if all of the appropriate organisations refuse or fail to select any candidate, or
(B) if the Minister decides not to appoint as a member any of the candidates selected by such organisations,
pursuant to a particular request under subparagraph (iii), then either-
(C) the Minister shall appoint as a member a person who was amongst those selected by such an organisation pursuant to a previous request (if any) under that subparagraph in relation to that appointment, or
(D) the Minister shall make a further such request and shall appoint as a member a person who was amongst those selected pursuant to that request made in relation to the appointment.
(v) Where a request is made under subparagraph (iii) or (iv)(D), failure or refusal by the organisation of whom the request is made to select the number of candidates specified in the request shall not preclude the appointment as a member of a person who was selected in relation to that appointment either by the organisation or by any other organisation.".
This concerns the appointment of eight members to a regional board. This amendment provides that the Minister shall prescribe two organisations representative of agriculture, aquaculture, the environment, regional tourism, the national heritage and regional and local development. Paragraphs (ii) to (v) detail the nomination selection procedures to be applied which are modelled on the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997, regarding the appointment of the aquaculture appeals board. Through the process of prescribing relevant organisations from whom nominations for board membership will be sought, this amendment answers the issue raised that the appointment of members by the Minister would be purely political.