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

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 6, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: "Amendment of section 7 of Principal Act

5. Section 7 of the Principal Act is amended, in subsection (5), by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (c):

"(c) the policies (whether set out in codes, guidelines or other documents, or any combination thereof) and objectives of the Government or any Minister of the Government to the extent that those policies and objectives may affect or relate to the functions of the Executive,".".

I wish to introduce Ms Bernie Ryan and Dr. Ronan Glynn from the Department of Health. We are delighted to be here. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, I thank the committee for providing the time for us to debate the Bill. The Bill is an important step on the journey of strengthening of the Government's framework for the HSE. It is a priority for Sláintecare and this Government.

The public appointments process has taken place and Mr. Ciarán Devane and eight other members of the new board including deputy chair, Professor Deirdre Madden, have been selected. I welcome the support received for this Bill in the Seanad and the Dáil and look forward to discussing it. I apologise again that the Minister could not be here this morning.