asked the Minister for Health the function of the National Health Council; the names and qualifications of the board; and how often it has met in the past two years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Health Council.
18.
The council is statutorily established—and reconstituted at two-yearly intervals—to advise the Minister on such general matters affecting or incidental to the health of the people as may be referred to them by the Minister and on such other general matters (other than conditions of employment of officers and servants and the amount or payment of grants or allowances) relating to the operation of the health services as they think fit.
The relevant statutory provision is section 98 of the Health Act, 1947, as amended by section 41 of the Health Act, 1953. The present council was set up on 1st April, 1968, and will go out of office on 31st March, 1970. In the first year of its term of office the council held eight meetings and there were three sub-committee meetings. Since 1st April last the council held six meetings and there were two sub-committee meetings.
As the list of names of members of the council is a lengthy one, I propose, a Cheann Comhairle, with your permission to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is a list of the members of the council:—
E.S. Ó Braoin, Uas., N.T., chairman;
Professor W.F. O'Dwyer, vice-chairman, associate professor of Medicine, R.C.S.I.;
Professor I. W. Browne, Chief Psychiatrist, Dublin Health Authority;
Miss M. J. Carey, R.G.N., R.M.;
Dr. J. Conney, Consultant Psychiatrist;
Dr. J. Cox, District Medical Officer, Delvin, Co. Westmeath;
Dr. P. B. Cusack, County Physician, Monaghan;
Leslie Bean T. de Barra, Cathaoirleach Cumann Croise Deirge na hÉireann;
Mr. J. Doherty, Psychiatric Nurse;
Dr. M. J. Dyar, District Medical Officer, Loughrea;
Mr. Thomas Kennedy, P.C., CIE Official;
Miss M. McCabe, Midwifery Tutor, Coombe Hospital;
Alderman M. J. McGuinness, Merchant;
Mr. James McGuire, Editor, "Western People";
Miss M. McInerney, Matron, Royal City of Dublin Hospital;
Mr. M. Macken, Dublin City and County Manager;
Mr. T. J. McManus, County Manager, Sligo-Leitrim;
Mr. J. A. Mehigan, Consultant Surgeon;
Dr. Brendan O'Donnell, Chief Medical Officer, Kildare;
Mr. John B. O'Donoghue, Chairman, Peamount Hospital;
Mr. Thomas M. O'Grady, Dental Surgeon, President Dental Board;
Mr. J. O'Hanrahan, County Surgeon, Roscommon;
Mr. J. O'Mahony, General Manager, Voluntary Health Insurance Board;
Professor Eoin O'Malley, Professor of Surgery, U.C.D.;
Mr. C. A. O'Sullivan, Dental Surgeon;
Dr. Denis J. O'Sullivan, Dean of the Medical Faculty, U.C.C.;
Mr. L. P. Pelly, Ophthalmic Optician and Pharmaceutical Chemist;
Mr. R. J. Power, Pharmaceutical Chemist;
Dr. Harold Quinlan, Consultant Physician;
Dr. J. P. Shanley, Surgeon;
Senator P.J. Teehan, Auctioneer and Farmer;
Dr. O. Conor Ward, Consultant Paediatrician.
At the inaugural meeting on 14 June, 1968, Mr. E. S. O'Braoin and Professor W. F. O'Dwyer were unanimously elected chairman and vice-chairman respectively. I have given the occupational descriptions rather than the academic qualifications of the members which is what I feel the Deputy requires.