Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Jul 1997

Vol. 480 No. 2

Written Answers. - Ministerial Appointments.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

192 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the appointments to State boards made in his Department between 18 November 1994 and 15 December 1994; the date on which these appointments received ministerial sanction; and the date on which the positions to which the appointments were made became vacant. [13945/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Cowen)

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form as follows. Bord na Radharcmhastóirí is the only board to which appointments were made in the period in question.

Appointments made by the Minister for Health between 18 November 1994 and 15 December 1994.

Board	Member	Date of Appointment	Effective from
Bord na Radharc-mhastóirí	Dr. Michelle Coffey	30 November, 1994	1 January, 1995
	Dr. Anthony Smith	30 November, 1994	1 January, 1995
	Dr. Rosemary Boothman	30 November, 1994	1 January, 1995
	Dr. Richard Shanahan	30 November, 1994	1 January, 1995
	Dr. Alphonsus Walsh	30 November, 1994	1 January, 1995

It should be noted that Article 9 (2) of the Opticians Act (1956) states: "Before the 1st day of December in each election year, the Minister shall appoint (a) four persons each of whom is a registered medical practitioner, and (b) one other person (whether or not being a registered medical practitioner), to be members of the board" i.e. it is a requirement of the Act that the appointments be made by that date.