asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is now prepared to state why he did not adopt the same course with the chairman of the National Health Insurance Society as he did with other members by communicating with him before making a new appointment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Chairmanship of National Health Insurance Society.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, some months ago a public controversy arose between the then chairman of the Committee of Management of the National Health Insurance Society and myself, as Minister for Local Government and Public Health, as to the special relationship and responsibilty to the Minister of those whom he appointed from year to year to the chairmanship, trusteeship or membership of the committee of management of the society. These are matters of fundamental importance, and the views expressed by the then chairman in regard to them could not, in my opinion, be reconciled with the proper discharge by me of my duties as Minister responsible for the administration of national health insurance generally nor with my particular responsibility for the appointments in question. Unfortunately those views had been so publicly and emphatically expressed that I believe that any private overture on my part to suggest they might be modified to meet my position would neither be warranted nor welcomed. It is, of course, unnecessary for me to add that the issues raised in this controversy as to the relationship and responsibility to the Minister of persons appointed by him from year to year to the society were quite independent of the merits or demerits of certain proposals put forward by the then chairman. These proposals are in fact being examined in my Department.