The composition of the Oversight Committee is as follows: Minister for Health – Dr James Reilly; Minister of State at the Department of Health – Mr. Alex White; Minister of State at the Department of Health – Ms. Kathleen Lynch; Secretary General – Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin; Chief Medical Officer – Dr. Tony Holohan; Social Inclusion Unit PO – Ms. Geraldine Luddy. The purpose of this Committee is:
- To establish and maintain a clear mechanism for internal communications between the Social Inclusion Unit, senior management in the Department and the Ministers in the Department of Health.
- To ensure that the Ministers in the Department of Health are regularly updated on the progress achieved in the drafting of the legislation.
Five meetings of this Committee have taken place to date, on 24th and 29th January and 31st January, and 5th and 19th February. Myself, Minister of State White, Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin, Dr. Tony Holohan, and Ms. Geraldine Luddy attended all the meetings. Minister of State Lynch attended the meetings of 29th January, and 5th and 19th February. Ministerial advisers also attended these meetings from time to time. No date has yet been set for future meetings of this Committee.