Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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That does not explain why the Minister is seeking to delete the provision for a six-month cap relating to that absence. We have many examples across the public service of people in high office who are merely acting in the respective role that they occupy. Several local authority county managers are acting up and they have not been designated. Their predecessors have not been properly replaced. I fear that someone could be in such a position for an extended period. Six months is a long time and the HSE is responsible for the largest chunk of public money in the context of the overall health budget. Where somebody is acting in the capacity of the DG, a safety net is required in order there are not extended periods of stewardship where people for whatever reason have not been appointed to the position. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the DG duly appointed could be in absentia for a variety of reasons for much longer periods.