Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is important to say that. Amendment No. 6 provides for a nomination from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, which is a broad representative group, while the HSE is the largest employer of the State. It will be no surprise that I propose this given my background. Deputy Donnelly's amendment and mine, taken together, are not intended to comment on the board - I do not want to put words in anyone's mouth - but the intention is to ensure the board is the best it can be. With the greatest respect to the Minister of State, we believe that the more guidance that is inserted in the legislation to assist the Minister, the better the board will be. The board has an important function and Sinn Féin sees a clear role for a representative of workers generally, but specifically from within the HSE. We were clear to ensure that the amendment provides for that person to have sufficient experience and expertise relating to matters connected with the function of the executive to enable him or her to make a substantial contribution. It is not somebody who would be there keeping a seat warm, but who, in the Minister's view, by virtue of his or her nomination by ICTU would make a substantial contribution to the board. We do not seek to point fingers at anyone who might be on the board but to ensure that the Minister, and his successors, have sufficient guidance to ensure that the board is representative. I will support Deputy Donnelly's amendment for that reason but I also believe that the ICTU, as a broad and representative body, has, and should have, a role in ensuring that workers are represented on the board of the HSE, which is the largest employer in the State. Too often in this State we have seen the consequence of ignoring workers when they try to bring issues of concern to the fore.