Vol. 415 No. 2
67 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if she will make a statement on media reports (details supplied) which suggest that the Local Appointments Commission are being increasingly bypassed for health board consultant appointments and instead many consultants are being chosen by health boards themselves.
All health board consultant appointments are made under the direction of the Local Appointments Commission. However, it has been customary in the case of consultant joint appointments, i.e., appointments with sessional commitments to both a health board and a voluntary agency, to make the appointments under the auspices of the voluntary agency but with an active input from the health board. I should also point out that consultant appointments to health boards and voluntary agencies including their sessional commitments, are regulated by Comhairle na nOspidéal.
Although this system has worked very satisfactorily to-date, I am aware that some concern has been expressed at the manner in which some consultant appointments are made. My Department are actively reviewing the position at present and I will make any changes considered necessary following the completion of this review.
