I cannot read the Minister's mind but, whatever the motive, the right person was appointed. She has discharged her duties in the highest manner possible. One would expect that from a lady in religion who has had the experience of dealing with nurses, hospitals, those in bad health and those who are dying. I do not think a better person could have been appointed.
In relation to the composition of the board, Deputy Begley raised a very important point. He suggested that the Minister should look at the composition of nursing and training boards in other countries. I hope that the Minister, when appointing the board, will appoint those of a very high standard of professional conduct who also have very high moral standards so that they may be passed on to the nursing profession who, in turn, will bring comfort to the sick by practising the proper training which was taught to them in our hospitals. I salute everyone associated with the present board. We can be very proud of the high standard of our nurses and, in speaking about the appointment of the board, it is very gratifying that no Deputy can say that there have been defaulters in the nursing profession.
When making appointments to the board the Minister should sympathetically consider the special position of the midwife. I am sure representations have been made in that regard by trade unions and professional organisations dealing with the special claim which that section of the nursing profession enjoy. I hope Deputies realise that one of the essentials in the Bill is the appointment of the board. That is why we cannot rush the Bill through the House. We must know where we are going and try to extract every bit of information from the Minister because it is so important for the health service and the running of the hospitals. We must ensure that nothing is concealed in the Bill which will lessen the admiration and respect which those in the nursing profession have for the religious who participate in their training. They consist of nuns, priests and brothers. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the religious orders in the medical profession. I hope the board will not be biased against the religious orders. It is right that there should be a voice in this House to sound a warning well in advance because many have expressed the belief that some of the motives behind the Bill were to squeeze out the nursing brothers and religious orders. I should like the Minister to give the House a guarantee that that is not the position. I should like him to give a guarantee so far as appointments to the board are concerned that where possible those engaged in the nursing profession and who are associated with religious orders be favourably considered. In this way their expertise and, above all, their training will be passed on in the code of moral conduct that must be exercised particularly by the nursing profession who have a grave responsibility in this matter.
Those of us who have had experience of hospitals rejoice that we had the benefit of the noble advice of the religious. They have a high standard of professional conduct. We are living in a time when these people are coming under attack by the media and by those in high places. Public representatives must make sure that the religious are given due justice and the recognition they deserve and which the Irish people expect them to get. We are not legislating for a few. We are not legislating for those who might be described as the cranks of the health services. We are legislating for all the people. We are not just dealing with a few medical crackpots who are anxious to enunciate their own theories of medicine, of medical practices and their own self-manufactured code of morals in hospitals and on boards.
As Members of this House we should keep a close and watchful eye to make sure that legislation of this kind is viewed seriously. Above all it must be viewed with a sense of justice and consideration for the sick and the poor who do not enjoy influence or wealth. However, these people have the love and charity of the nurses and they get words of comfort. The members appointed to the board will be responsible for the training of such people and we must ensure they are worthy of trust and responsibility. I am sure when the Minister makes the appointments none will be suspect or will bring dishonour or disgrace to the medical profession. I hope he will scrutinise the curriculum vitae of every person who is appointed and that he will consult with the Irish Nurses Association.
In relation to general practitioners, I hope he will examine their past history and conduct because they will have posts of great responsibility where they will train the nurses of the future. Many of those people who will be trained by those about to be appointed may come from religious orders for professional nursing training because in many instances they first enter religious life and then qualify as nurses. It is necessary that the right and proper people should give advice.
The Bill states that advice and guidance must come from those appointed to the board. There will be dangerous results if dangerous people are appointed. There will be good results if people of fruitful record are appointed; but there will be bad results if people of doubtful record, either professionally or morally, are appointed. That is why I want in advance to give the Minister due notice. All of us in the House and outside it will be watching with keen interest. We will watch with an attentive ear and afterwards we will have a loud mouth in this House to ensure that the appointments are above suspicion and are not promoted for the sake of political affiliations. The appointment should not be made of those in the medical profession, both nurses and doctors, who today are loudly applauding a new theory and a new doctrine that is foreign to the traditions and the Christian values of the Irish nation. We must ensure that the board will be free of such people.
There is a place in this country for everyone. Those who deserve a high place should be given that reward, particularly in relation to medicine, nursing and those who will be in charge of our hospitals. Those who will be appointed and who will provide the training and guidance for our future nurses will have a grave responsibility. They must set out the proper code of medical and moral conduct that is expected in hospitals. That is why it is right that we issue a warning to the Minister for Health that what he is doing will be watched carefully. Where we see an appointment made of a person who does not possess the right moral standards in our opinion as well as the right professional standards, the House and the country must be made aware of it. This is where the Minister has a grave responsibility. This is where he will have to forget his own personal feelings in relation to appointments of this kind. The matter is very important for Irish hospitals, for the nursing profession and for the patients. Above all, we must not forget those who have to foot the bill. The people expect high standards in our hospitals and they expect high standards from doctors, nurses and the advisers who will be on the board.
I am suspicious of the entire Bill but I do not disagree that some aspects of it are necessary. This will be an important board and that is why Members of the House should express their opinions on it. The board will steer the future of Irish medicine and the training and education of nurses as well as the conduct of hospitals for 25 years or more. It will be vitally important, therefore, that we get the right people appointed to the board, and Deputies will be keeping a keen eye on the appointments.
At present there are between 2,000 and 2,500 trained nurses here looking for work. Every week nurses are emigrating at the rate of 700 a week. Will this new board simply be training nurses for work in Irish hospitals or for hospitals in Britain, Germany, Scandinavia and the Far and Middle East? We have been training our nurses in a highly professional way and it is about time we thought about finding work at home in Irish hospitals for those boys and girls.
The board must be seen to be above reproach. In that way it will have the full confidence of the people. If it is a good board it will be a success and its work will be reflected in the hospitals for years to come, if it is a bad board the work it will do will be bad.