Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to be unfair.

My next question is for the Department. The Minister has made a commitment that there will be two patient advocates on boards, which is only right and proper, particularly with regard to the board of the HSE which is being reinstated. That board should never have been abolished. In my view, we need to take a different approach to finding such people. We need to ensure that there is demographic cover provided by patient advocates but that will not be possible if people do not have their wages and costs met. When one looks at the people affected by some of the scandals, one sees that many are relatively young. In order for such people to be able to sit on a board, they would have to give up work. It is not about making money but about making sure that their wages and costs are covered. We need to think outside the box in this regard.

I ask Mr. McCallion to take back that message to departmental officials. In fairness, retirees and public servants are fine; we need them. However, we also need to ensure the the 34 year olds affected - women and men - will have a chance to make a contribution because in so many cases the people affected are in that tier of society, but at this time they cannot make those commitments. It is impossible for them to do so. Therefore, I ask Mr. McCallion to take that message back with him.