asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is prepared to amend the National Health Insurance Acts so as to provide that no official of the State or local authorities shall be appointed to the position of chairman of the Committee of Management of the National Health Insurance Society.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - National Health Insurance Society Chairman.
The reply is in the negative.
Is the Minister aware that it is a very serious wrong to introduce into a public committee such as this a State official who, by reason of the fact that he is a State official, is not free to express his opinions and influence Government policy or public policy?
It is not proposed to restrict the Minister's field of selection.
Why was the precedent which was established when this committee was set up, of having an independent gentleman of high standing as chairman of this committee, not continued?
I suggest that is a somewhat different matter.