asked the Minister for Health if he will consider increasing the representation of the nursing profession on the governing body of An Bord Altranais.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nurses on Board Altranais.
50.
Mr. O'Malley
The members of An Bord Altranais are appointed in accordance with sections 12 and 13 of the Nurses Act, 1950. The Board consists of 23 members. Ten of them are nurses elected by the nursing profession.
Of the total membership of 23, therefore, 12 are required by statute to be nurses, which ensures that the nursing profession are in the majority on the Board. I do not, therefore, consider that it is necessary to increase the representation of the nursing profession.
The remaining 13 members are appointed by the Minister and, of these, at least two, in addition to the ten elected members, must be nurses.
Most of the Minister's appointees must be persons specifically qualified, for example, with experience as a master or assistant master of a maternity hospital, with experience in the training of nurses, in public health, in educational matters, or representative of a county council or county borough council.
The Act as it stands gives a well-balanced and representative Board.