Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I support the proposal to recommit. The Bill is designed to remove democratic accountability from the delivery of the health service. As a former member of a health board, I can say that for all their faults the health boards had at least some semblance of democratic accountability in terms of the nominees of the respective county council participants.

As stated on Second Stage, at the very least this Bill should not have come before the Dáil except in tandem with the health Bill in order that we would be able to see what we are facing in terms of the future configuration of health service delivery in the State. What we are being presented with is a perpetuation of the bureaucracy of the health boards without any democratic accountability and with CEOs who will hold most elevated positions and who will not be open to question. There is no guarantee this will all come to an end on 31 December because the Bill does not contain a sunset clause.

I received notification from the Ceann Comhairle that five of my amendments have been ruled out of order. I wish to refer to one because it relates directly——

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