asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the Local (Health Committees) Regulations, 1972, so as to provide representation by the 21 members of Cork County Council elected for the electoral divisions of Midleton, Cork and Bandon on the local committee for the south Cork area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Committee Regulations.
9.
This question of the representation of local authority members on this committee has been in dispute since the local committees were first established under the Health Act, 1970. Shortly after I became Minister, I met a deputation from Cork County Council and following the meeting put forward what I considered to be a very reasonable proposal aimed at meeting the legitimate points made to me by the deputation, while at the same time keeping the committee down to manageable size. Unfortunately, the county council did not agree to my proposal.
I cannot agree to their request to have all 21 county council members from the area appointed to the committee because this would give a committee, inclusive of Cork city and Cork county representatives of at least 65 persons. I think that the proposal which I put forward in May, 1973, represented a considerable advance on the position taken by my predecessor and I would ask the county council to look again at the reasonableness of the arrangements I have suggested.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the effect of this regulation is to completely disenfranchise 21 members of the southern area of Cork County Council—these members come from the most prosperous and densely populated part of the county—and are the only councillors in the country so deprived? The Minister's suggestion is, therefore, neither satisfactory nor feasible.
I am, indeed, aware of the annoyance to those councillors who are disenfranchised. I am also aware that, as the Minister stated, a committee of 65 would be unwieldy. I suggested in the recent past that if the Senators and Deputies for that area would meet the Minister and myself again we might be able to hammer out a workable arrangement.
I fully appreciate the Parliamentary Secretary's concern but I am not sure how he arrived at a figure of 65 for the committee. Is he talking about the northern, southern and western committees?
No, I am talking about the entire membership of the Midleton/Bandon/Cork rural electoral areas and the members of the corporation.
That would make 52.
They would need other advisers as well.
What is the objection to having a further advisory committee? We already have such a committee for the western and northern area and the city area, which is being operated by corporation members, so why not another committee covering the most prosperous and fastest-developing area of Cork which has been left out?
That would be one of the questions to be discussed at the meeting I suggested between the Senators, Deputies, the Minister and myself.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary arrange the meeting?
I will.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary appreciate that all we want is a restoration of the status quo, before the Health Act came into force.
I have sympathy with the Deputy's case but I can see the unwieldly nature of a committee of 65.