Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for not being present at the start. I will have to blame traffic. However, I read the witnesses' document. Just to point out, "An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann" is spelled wrongly at the top, but that is a minor point.

Like Senator Crown, I had serious concerns at the start of the year about the registration retention fee and how that issue was handled. I have had greater concerns since about the way the organisation is being run. The statute requires that it be run independently. At the time when we in the Seanad were raising the issue of the extortionate increase in the fee, the Minister for Health was telling us he had no role whatsoever in it. However, the witnesses have told the committee that the organisation changed the policy in consultation with the Department of Health. Under what statutory provision was that done?

I am also interested in the Lansdowne Road agreement. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland seems to be a party to it, as nurses have been given the commitment that there will be no increase in fees until 2019.