asked the Minister for Health when he intends to go ahead with the promised review of the new applications procedures introduced by his Department for Comhairle na nOspidéal some time ago.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Comhairle na nOspidéal Applications Procedures.
7.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the procedures which were introduced in 1983 whereby health agencies must consult my Department about the financial implications of a consultant appointment before an application is made to Comhairle na nOspidéal. I have reviewed this arrangement and informed the comhairle that it will continue to operate.
In reply to Question No. 5 the Minister stated that Comhairle na nOspidéal is a statutory body responsible for the regulation of the number and type of consultant posts. That function was usurped by the Minister in 1983. I would refer him to a letter dated 17 March 1983 from the Secretary of the Department of Health which stated that it was not the intention of the Minister that the revised arrangements would apply indefinitely. It was envisaged that the arrangements would operate to October 1984 to see how they would work and if there was a need to continue them. The letter also stated — and this is where the crunch comes — that a joint review would be undertaken prior to that date. Could the Minister comment on that letter?
The new comhairle have been appointed and if they wish to submit any observations regarding the current review procedures they are very welcome to do so. Meanwhile, I have decided to keep the review policy in operation which means that before comhairle make an appointment in future, the full financial implications of their proposals will have to be made known so that we will not have the ludicrous position whereby every health board and voluntary hospital in the country write to comhairle asking for appointments to be made which are sanctioned without money being provided.
Did the joint review promised by the Department and the Minister in 1983 take place?
I do not know but I will find out.
The Minister does not know?
I am being honest and I said that I will find out. The Deputy is a former member of comhairle so I would not presume to suggest that he did not attend the meetings. I will also write to the Deputies regarding the joint review.
Deputy Ormonde rose.
This is unreasonable. There are 50 questions approximately down for oral answer under the new system which presupposes that the Whips expect a good number of questions to be answered. I have been asked to use my discretion and powers to see that they are answered. If every question is wrangled over——
We accept that but the purpose of questions is to get information which, unfortunately, we are not getting.
This is the final supplementary.
In relation to the statement which the Minister made regarding the streamlining of procedures for appointing consultants, is he aware that there is an application before Comhairle na nOspidéal for a 15th cardiologist for the city of Dublin while the rest of the country have only three——
This is argument.
It is a fact.