Tom Moffatt
Question:27 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Health when he will approve the appointment of a general practitioner representative to the board of the new Tallaght Hospital. [20434/96]
Written Answers. - Tallaght Hospital Board.
Limerick East): The order establishing the new Tallaght Hospital came into effect on 1 August last. The order established the hospital as a body corporate to be known as the Adelaide and Meath Hospital Dublin, incorporating the National Children's Hospital.
The appointment of the hospital board, comprising 23 members, is made under section 5 (i) of the Order. Under that section I, as Minister for Health, am responsible for the appointment of eight of those members. Of those eight, one member is appointed on the nomination of the Eastern Health Baord, one is appointed on the nomination of the board of Trinity College, Dublin, and the remaining six are appointed from among persons nominated by the president of the hospital. These arrangements were agreed following protracted and highly sensitive discussions between the boards of the three base hospitals and their associated bodies. Under the terms of the order, therefore the Minister for Health is given no scope for appointing any specific professional representative to the board of the hospital.