I move amendment No. 28:
In page 17, subsection (1), line 23, to delete "three" and substitute "four".
A quorum of three could result in a meeting being held which could be balanced towards a particular sector or sectors. I am happy to increase the quorum to four concomitant on amendment No. 27 which extends the composition of the board to seven.
Subsection (1) states "The quorum for a meeting of the Board shall be three and shall include the Chairperson or one of the members appointed pursuant to section 23(3)(a)". The provision has been changed by amendment No. 27 to: "organisations which, in the Minister's opinion, are concerned with the promotion of the development of aquaculture or a representative of persons carrying on the business of developing aquaculture". One member of the quorum must at all times be representing the aquaculture industry. Given past experience, I suggest it would be appropriate to include paragraphs (a) and (b) or drop (a). This is the way forward if we wish to maintain the trust of the organisations mentioned in the Bill.
I am not sure how appropriate this provision is in view of the amendment effecting section 23. I will examine the issue raised by Deputy Molloy before Report Stage.
