Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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When the HSE was established, we took away political teeth. I served on the HSE regional forum and it was not worth the paper it was written on. There was no accountability and we were fobbed off with answers that were unsatisfactory. In the context of the HSE, the Minister's presence in office notwithstanding, there is a need for political involvement at local level, whatever about us in the Oireachtas. The health boards may have been misused by certain politicians but a great disservice was done to the body politic in taking away that function of the elected representatives of the people. I say that as someone who has been involved in the Health Service Executive in terms of the forum and this committee. At times, dealing with the HSE is like dealing with the Vatican; it can be very frustrating, although there are very good people there.