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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Jun 2004

Vol. 176 No. 19

Health (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages.

All amendments offered to the Bill on Report Stage have been ruled out of order.

Amendments Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, not moved.
Bill received for final consideration.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

I thank all Senators for their contributions during all Stages. We have taken into consideration all the points made.

My one concern, which is shared by the Irish Medical Organisation, is that on the health boards at present the medical profession is well represented and doctors have an ethical duty to act as advocates for their patients. We would hope when the new structures are put in place that the Minister will ensure an adequate representation from the medical profession. As advocates for our patients we consider this particularly important.

I thank the Minister of State——

I remind Senators that we have not yet agreed on the Bill passing.

I thank the Minister of State and his Department for their input to the Bill. I thank also Members on the other side for their input. I trust the Bill, when enacted, will be fruitful. I take on board and acknowledge the remarks of Senator Henry and the remarks on the previous day of Senator Feighan. We are all interested in seeing the democratic balance included in the Bill and in the regulation that will follow. To some extent that issue has been addressed.

There are some positive aspects to this Bill. One aspect we have debated is that of county councillors not serving on health boards. I have stated here many times that is not advantageous to the provision of a proper health care system. Local councillors have had a great input. I am opposed to the Bill on those grounds.

Question put.

I wish to advise the House that, arising from the inadvertent casting of a vote, the result of the division as shown on the display board has been amended with the agreement of the tellers for both sides. The amended result, which I will now announce, will appear in the Journal of Proceedings.

The Seanad divided: Tá, 30; Níl, 12.

  • Bohan, Eddie.
  • Brady, Cyprian.
  • Brennan, Michael.
  • Callanan, Peter.
  • Cox, Margaret.
  • Daly, Brendan.
  • Dardis, John.
  • Dooley, Timmy.
  • Glynn, Camillus.
  • Hanafin, John.
  • Hayes, Maurice.
  • Henry, Mary.
  • Kenneally, Brendan.
  • Kitt, Michael P.
  • Leyden, Terry.
  • Lydon, Donal J.
  • Mansergh, Martin.
  • Minihan, John.
  • Mooney, Paschal C.
  • Morrissey, Tom.
  • Moylan, Pat.
  • O’Brien, Francis.
  • Ó Murchú, Labhrás.
  • O’Rourke, Mary.
  • Ormonde, Ann.
  • Phelan, Kieran.
  • Ross, Shane.
  • Walsh, Jim.
  • White, Mary M.
  • Wilson, Diarmuid.

Níl

  • Bannon, James.
  • Bradford, Paul.
  • Browne, Fergal.
  • Burke, Paddy.
  • Burke, Ulick.
  • Coghlan, Paul.
  • Coonan, Noel.
  • Feighan, Frank.
  • Finucane, Michael.
  • Hayes, Brian.
  • McHugh, Joe.
  • Terry, Sheila.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Minihan and Moylan; Níl, Senators U. Burke and Feighan.
Question declared carried.
Sitting suspended at 11.40 a.m. and resumed at 12.15 p.m.
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