Mr. Frank Nolan:

No problem.

I have worked in both the public and private sectors from 1983, spending about 50% of my time in each. I have also spent approximately 50% of my time working in the Republic of Ireland and 50% in Northern Ireland. I have managed budgets of £5 million to £3 billion and teams of five to 75 staff. I have been employed in financial control positions since 1983, working with the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee, the British Broadcasting Company in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Newry & Mourne District Council, Moor Steel Engineering, Aubrey Fogarty Advertising, Printec International and Diageo Ireland. I am employed in Navigator Financial Planning in Warrenpoint which provides financial strategies for a select group of clients. I am also employed by Aviareto, the manager of the International Registry of Mobile Assets.

My main ambition as chairperson of the Dublin Dental University Hospital board is to be an active participant with the CEO and board in publishing and implementing the 2015 to 2018 strategic plan. The Minister has asked me to pay particular attention to ensuring adherence to the eligibility provisions of the Health Act 1970, as amended, in the provision of dental services; taking account of the standards and procedures in place for the provision of dental services under the dental treatment services scheme and any equivalent scheme that may be put in place in the future as it is important to ensure there is equivalence of treatment for all those eligible for health service care provided in the State, regardless of setting; fostering collaboration between the two dental schools, the importance being their common remit in undergraduate training; supporting the Department of Health, as required, in the development of oral health policy; and educating and training a dental workforce in line with a new oral health policy to ensure the future oral health needs of the population are met. I intend to include these points in our strategic plan and hope to receive board approval by 29 June, with the plan being supplied to the Minister shortly thereafter.

I will review the accounts for the year ending December 2014 and expect to have them agreed and presented to the audit committee, passed and signed off on by the board and with the Comptroller and Auditor General by the next board meeting. In the next few days, following confirmation of my appointment, I expect to appoint a new vice chairperson, a new audit committee and a new performance committee.