Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the HSE is now to have an independent board, it is important in terms of good corporate governance that board members are now further represented on the audit committee as part of the planning and assurance process. It is important to note that the three board members from the HSE board on the audit committee will help feed back to the HSE board what is happening on the audit committee. I am confused as to why the Deputy would have a problem with three of the members from the main board sitting on the audit committee because there will not be an imbalance, if that is the point he is trying to make. My understanding is that four external members and maybe more as well as an independent chairman would outnumber any members who are also on the HSE board. I am not sure why the Deputy is pursuing this avenue around the board members. The amendments provide that not fewer than three members of the HSE board will be on the committee. It could be less. If there could be more external people on the board, I do not understand the Deputy's point.