Amendment No. 8 is in the name of the Minister. Amendment No. 9 is related so we will discuss amendments Nos. 8 and 9 together by agreement.
SECTION 5.
I move amendment No. 8:
In page 6, subsection (3), line 36, after "remuneration" to insert "and expenses".
Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn proposes to delete section 5 (5) which provides for expenses for the chief executive officer to be approved by the Minister for Health with the consent of the Minister for Finance. This amendment is agreed on the basis that expenses will be included in section 5 (3) to be approved by the Minister for Health with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
I thank the Minister for agreeing to my suggestion on Second Stage. In amendment No. 8 does "remuneration" include expenses?
I am advised that "remuneration" could be taken narrowly as meaning simply salary and that it would be prudent to cover expenses also.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 9:
In page 6, lines 42 to 45, to delete subsection (5).
Amendment agreed to.
Question proposed: "That section 5, as amended, stand part of the Bill."
Why does section 5(1) provide that the officers "may include a chief executive" and then go on to say "who shall be known . . ." etc. They either have a chief executive or they do not, I would have thought. In any event, the board has been there for about 30 years. It must have had a chief executive up to now. Is this only a change of title to increase his status?
A change of title is involved also but section 5 (1) provides for the appointment of a chief executive. It does not, however, require such a post to be filled to enable the board to carry on its duties. The net point is that the board could still act if there was a vacancy in the position of chief executive.
Section 5 agreed to.
Section 6 agreed to.