Vol. 404 No. 1
200 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his proposals regarding (a) the post of chief pharmacist in the Eastern Health Board (b) if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the post is filled in an acting capacity by a pharmacist who is approaching his 70th birthday and is only employed in a temporary capacity and (c) the procedures which were pursued in the appointment of this person to the above post in September 1989.
The post of chief pharmacist is currently filled in a temporary capacity pending completion by the Eastern Health Board of a review of the central pharmacy. I understand that the Eastern Health Board are satisfied that the duties of the post are being fully and effectively discharged under the present arrangement.
I have no function in proceedings to fill health board posts on a temporary basis, as these are entirely a matter for the chief executive officer of the individual board concerned.
The selection of candidates for permanent appointment to pharmacist posts in health boards is done by way of competition under the Local Appointments Commission. The initiation of arrangements to fill posts through the commission is again a matter for the individual health board concerned.
