Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Yes. I believe the association has submitted an application for funding. I understand the association will celebrate its 20th anniversary in May and I hope we can be supportive of that.

I spoke last night to the chairman of the HSE who told me that the executive has narrowed the competition to three or four candidates. It is doing profile and other checks on those candidates. He hopes his board will be in a position to make a recommendation to me in about two to three weeks; I believe 10 or 12 April is the date. I will be delighted to make that announcement and I will be even more delighted when the person takes up the position. Before the Deputy asks me the question, I do not know any of the candidates, and I did not want to know. Once the best person is selected, I will be happy and I hope he or she will come here and stay.

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