Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2016
62. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure balance between the public interest and the interests of practitioners and service providers when appointments are made to the Registration Boards established for designated professions under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4512/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, registration boards established for the designated professions consist of 13 members, comprising 6 professional members and 7 other members. It has been the policy and practice to appoint lay people to these 7 positions thereby ensuring a lay majority on the boards.
These members include:
- 1 representative of the management of the public health sector, the social care sector or both sectors;
- 1 representative of the management of a voluntary or private sector organisation concerned with health or social care;
- 1 representative of third level educational establishments involved in the education and training of members of the profession nominated by the Minister for Education and Science; and
- 4 representatives of the public interest.
The nomination and appointment process for boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in legislation. In line with Government Decision S180/20/10/1617 of 2014, relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on state boards, and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Guidelines, my Department in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service website portal, Stateboards.ie, currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights under relevant legislation.
In a number of cases the Minister for Health may decide to re-appoint a board member for a second term, which is in keeping with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Guidelines. I also appoint members on the nomination of various bodies in accordance with the relevant legislation. I have no function in these nominations other than the actual appointments.
