Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

This is just a standard gagging provision that Ministers put into legislation. It is healthy that a robust parliamentary scrutiny scheme has been developed through the committees of the Oireachtas, where a CEO can answer truthfully on policy issues. The robustness of a particular view may be tested in this way. The Minister of State should accept the amendment, remove the gag and allow freedom of expression to be given, not only to the CEO of this particular authority, but to every board as regards policy matters. It is important in any statutory body but even more important in one where policy governs health and welfare and where lives and the well-being of citizens are at stake. I do not see why there should be an embargo on the chief executive officer expressing a view on policy.

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