I move amendment No. 1:—
In page 11, Section 21 (2), line 34, to insert after the word "duties" the words "unless the Minister otherwise directs".
On the Committee Stage the point was made by Deputy Rowlette that if the wording of sub-section (2) of Section 21 remained as in the Bill there would be a possibility of conflict of opinion, and consequent conflict in administration, between the medical superintendent officer of health and the resident medical superintendent. Sub-section (2) reads:—
The resident medical superintendent shall be responsible to the hospital board for the internal administration of every fever hospital and every convalescent home managed and controlled by the hospital board and shall in the performance of his duties observe and carry out any directions given by the medical superintendent officer of health of the county borough of Dublin.
It would be necessary, I think, to discuss amendments Nos. 1 and 2 together for the sake of clarity. Amendment No. 1 proposes to insert after the word "duties" the words "unless the Minister otherwise directs." Amendment No. 2 deletes the words "observe and carry out any directions given" and substitutes the words "adopt and give effect to any recommendations made." Amendment No. 1 provides that in the event of any difference of opinion between the medical superintendent officer of health and the resident medical superintendent, appeal might be made to the Minister and the resident medical superintendent would not be under statutory obligation to carry out the recommendations of the medical superintendent officer of health if the Minister otherwise directed. I think these two amendments fully meet the case made by Deputy Rowlette.
