Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In that case, it is somewhat redundant. If I understand the Minister of State correctly, the amendment provides that the Minister will issue a directive to the HSE to conduct an annual health needs assessment - which sounds sensible - and these are some matters which the Minister may decide to include in that directive. If that is a correct understanding, then subsection (2) seems redundant. It goes without saying that the Minister may include whatever he or she wishes to include. If it is not advisory, should the word "may" be replaced by "shall"? I would not support that change, but I do not understand the point of the subsection otherwise. I would include consideration of issues around gender and equality of access, for example.