asked the Minister for Health if members of the Midland Health Board are entitled to receive the names of the candidates placed on the panel for the positions of kitchen attendants at St. Peter's Hospital, Castlepollard; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kitchen Attendant Panel.
9.
The answer to the first part of the question is "No".
With regard to the second part the appointment of staff is a function of the chief executive officer of a health board under the provisions of section 14 (2) of the Health Act, 1970. A health board is precluded by the provisions of section 17 (3) of the Act from taking any decision or giving any direction in relation to any matter which is a statutory function of the chief executive officer of the board.
I did not ask whether we were entitled to give any decision or any direction. I did ask why members of the health board are not entitled, even out of courtesy, to be informed of the people who are appointed to a panel. What is wrong with that? Is it the Minister's idea to strip members of local authorities of all power and hand it over to a new type of bureaucracy?
As I indicated during the passage of the Health Bill, the position in regard to the function of chief executive officers in relation to matters such as the control, supervision, service, remuneration and privileges or superannuation of officers is placed on exactly the same basis as in the case of the County Management Acts of which the Deputy must have experience.
In the past we were always informed. If we asked for a list of mental hospital nurses appointed or any people appointed we always got the panel and how they were placed, the duration of the panel et cetera. What is wrong with giving that information to members of local authorities who are doing voluntary work and are doing the State's work? Why should you take that power that they had in the past from them? We were always given that information in the past.
It must have been given voluntarily because, according to the Act, there is no change in the position.
Question No. 10.
I have a few important questions.
We have 79 important questions to deal with.
Am I to assume from the reply of the Tánaiste—the Tánaiste is something above a Minister I assume so I will address him as Tánaiste— that this House spent months discussing a health services Bill and now when it is in operation——
The Deputy may not make a speech.
He always makes a speech.
The Deputy might ask a question and may I point out that this question relates to the Midland Health Board?
Am I to assume—is that not a question? The Ceann Comhairle has a habit of interrupting me at times without justification but I forgive him but this is a serious business. Millions of pounds are going down the drain through bureaucracy in this country. Millions of pounds have been squandered. We have heard about the £76 million which health services are costing this year by virtue of the bureaucratic system that controls the health services. My question is quite relevant.
The Deputy's question is not relevant. The question relates to the Midland Health Board.
It does and I am asking a question on the Midland Health Board if you would allow me to ask it. Am I to assume from the statement of the Tánaiste that we spent months here discussing the establishment of health boards, what representation the different councils should have on the boards, and now we find that the members of such health boards are not even entitled to the information set down in this question, that is, to know the panel of kitchen attendants? Is that so? Are we gone mad? Fianna Fáil have handed over this country to the bureaucrats. They will soon be moving over here.
The Deputy may not make a speech. Order. Question No. 10.
I have asked a question. Am I to get an answer?
I have called Question No. 10. The Deputy is making a speech on the question.
Give him a chance.
I want an answer from the Minister. I asked a question.
Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
I will resume my seat and I expect to get an answer.
I am calling Question No. 10.
This is a matter which is proper to be discussed on the Health Estimate. It would take me too long to analyse the Health Act and to distinguish between the powers of the health boards and the powers of county councils. Incidentally, the health boards can determine the number of officers and servants appointed by them but they have no part in the control, supervision or remuneration and so forth of the officers. There is no change in that. The health boards were given certain other executive powers which county councils under the County Management Acts did not specifically have but this is a matter far better discussed on the Health Estimate. One could not possibly discuss it at Question Time.
Question No. 10.
I am asking a further supplementary.
The Deputy may not ask any further question. I have called Question No. 10.
I will put down a question for next week, and probably raise this on the Adjournment.
I have called Question No. 10. There are 79 questions to be answered.
The Chair has been charged with being selective of late so far as some Deputies are concerned. I have never laid that charge against the Chair.
The Chair does not arise on this question. Will the Deputy please resume his seat and allow Questions to continue?
If the Deputy would ask a written question which will take some time to answer——
This is a very important question.
Will the Deputy please listen to me?
Let the Minister draft a reply.
This is a serious question. He is asking the difference between the powers of the members of a health board and the powers of the members of a county council. I shall have the reply prepared for him and he will then see the exact difference. It cannot be answered quite simply at Question Time.
Fianna Fáil have wiped out the powers of public representatives.
The Deputy is just now engaging in mumbo-jumbo.