asked the Minister for Health if, pending the proposed reorganisation of health boards, he will defer making any ministerial appointments to health boards under the 1970 Health Act, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ministerial Appointments to Health Boards.
9.
In the interests of continuity and because of my statutory obligations under the Health Act, 1970 I do not intend to defer making my appointments to the health boards when the terms of office of the existing Ministerial appointees expires.
The Minister indicated in reply to a previous question that he does not intend reducing the number of health boards but has given no indication to the House of any other proposal he may have, despite attempts by Members to seek details of any such proposal. Would the Minister accept that the appointment by him of 24 members with a five year tenure of office to various health boards from June, would preclude any serious options for reform that he may have.
I do not think it would preclude any options of the Minister. Indeed the elections are presently in progress to elect members representing the various professional interests on the health boards. When they are complete I will be making my appointments to the health boards.
Would the Minister accept that it would give an indication of his bona fides in the matter of general reform if he gave an indication that he does not intend to exercise his rights under the Health Act? That would be taken as a genuine attempt to reform the bureaucratic mess the health boards are in.
I do not accept that the health boards are in a bureauratic mess. It is not my intention to defer making appointments.
Question No. 10, please.
In view of the fact that the overwhelming majority of the local authority elected members under the health boards, even with the quota system in operation, are members of one political party, would the Minister on this occasion follow the precedent of one of his predecessors and appoint at least some of the 24 members from the different political groupings rather than as appears to be the case now, that we will have 24 members of the Fianna Fáil party appointed in the next few weeks? Would the Minister agree that that is not conducive to the rational development of any kind of health board system.
I have already had submissions to appoint a number of personnel to the health boards. I expect that I will have a lot more submissions before the date on which I make my appointments. Of course I will consider all submissions.
(Interruptions.)