Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
3050. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the involvement of a company (details supplied) in the appointment of a new chairperson to the North Inner-City Drug and Alcohol Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40104/21]
View answerDrug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery 2017-2015. Action 50 in the strategy seeks to improve accountability across the statutory, community and voluntary sectors and strengthen the task force model. This action will be delivered by ensuring that task forces have proper arrangements in place for the selection and renewal of the chairperson and members of the task forces and have proper procedures in place for addressing conflicts of interest.
It is the responsibility of the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force to put in place transparent arrangements for the selection and appointment of an independent chairperson, in line with action 50 in the national drugs strategy and the task force handbook. The selection process can include the assistance of organisations with expertise in the identification of possible candidates for this position.
I strongly believe that it is the collective membership of the task force alone that should appoint a chairperson, not the limited company associated with the task force. I ask for the co-operation of all stakeholders to put in place appropriate governance procedures for the North Inner City task force.
