David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Gloster has answered that one. We have had a number of very good and constructive meetings on the roll out of the regional health areas and in fairness to Mr. O'Connor and his team and Mr. Woods, they have been very helpful in departmental meetings. The regional health areas are going to be a key part of driving reform, productivity, population based budgeting and so on. There has been an issue that has arisen that I have to put to Mr. Gloster that is a serious one where health and social care professionals are not represented at management level and regional level. That is a mistake. I have raised it directly with Mr. Gloster privately and I am raising it publicly. I am putting it on the record that this should happen. The Department should be renamed the Department of Health and Social Care because social care and health and social care professionals do not get the recognition they deserve. Mr. Gloster worked in this space so he knows how important it is.

Will that issue be resolved? I have met with SIPTU and Fórsa and I know they are trying to engage with the HSE and the Department on this. We want to get the regional health areas right but we have to make sure that all grades are fairly and properly represented at management level. That is something I ask Mr. Gloster to seriously look at.