asked the Minister for Health what control, if any, he exercises over the activities of the Hospitals Trust Board as apart from the appointment of members of the Board.
60.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospitals Trust Board.
59.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state the names and qualifications of the members of the Hospitals Trust Board as appointed by him under the Public Hospitals (Amendment) Act, 1938.
61.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that in the Hospitals Sweepstake organisation operated by the Hospitals Trust Board there is considerable opposition by the management to organisation of the employees in a trade union; and that employees who joined a trade union were victimised; and if he will take steps to ensure that the constitutional rights of these workers to join a trade union are no longer interfered with in this way.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 59, 60 and 61 together.
Apart from the appointment of members of the Hospitals Trust Board, my functions in relation to the activities of the Board are briefly as follows:—
(1) the removal of members from the Board;
(2) the sanctioning of expenses incurred by the Board, including remuneration of any staff employed by the Board;
(3) the sanctioning of the terms of appointment or dismissal of any such staff;
(4) the approval of such matters in relation to the operation of the Board as to the manner in which the accounts are kept, the appointment of an auditor, and approval of schemes for the provision of office and other accommodation for sweepstake committees and other persons connected with the organisation and management of sweepstakes.
There are five members of the Hospitals Trust Board. The names and qualifications of the members of the Board as at present constituted are:—
Mr. James Troy, Accountant; Mr. John P. Reihill, Company Director; Mr. James R. Miley, Bank Manager; Mr. Denis Guiney, Company Director; Mr. Percy McGrath, Company Director.
They receive no payment for their services on the Board.
No question of organisation of employees of the Board in a trade union arises, since the Board does not, in fact, employ staff but avails itself of the services of the Bank of Ireland on and agency basis to provide the necessary secretarial and accounting facilities.