Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 February 2019
402. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he sought a report or update on the project and procurement process, including the negotiation of the guaranteed maximum price, before reappointing the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8146/19]
View answerThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board was established on 23 May 2007 in accordance with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order 2007 (Statutory Instrument No 246 of 2007). Article 9 of the Order sets out the mechanism for the appointment of the 13-member Board. The term of office of Board members appointed in July 2013 came to an end in July 2018 on completion of the five-year term specified in the Order.
The Children's Health Act 2018, which was enacted in November 2018 and commenced in December 20128, amended the provision relating to the appointment of the ordinary Board members to better reflect the competency-requirements for the Board for the next phase of the project. The Act also includes a provision which, on commencement, provides that the Board in existence at the time of commencement will cease to be in office. Accordingly, in July 2018, in the interests of maintaining stability at Board level during the critical period for this large-scale and complex capital project, including completing the work on agreement of a Guaranteed Maximum Price and mindful of a request from the outgoing Chairperson that consideration be given to the reappointment of the outgoing Board pending the appointment of a new Board through the anticipated legislative amendments, I reappointed the Board members. This was done with the knowledge of all parties that their term of office would be until such time as new appointments were made in line with the new legislative provision.
