Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I support the three amendments. This section deals with the establishment by the agency of a group of stakeholders for the purposes of consultation and communication. Who are the stakeholders? What are the criteria for including some and excluding others? While I am delighted that public representatives are regarded as stakeholders, the section also refers to "patients and providers of healthcare services". Why should the providers of health care services be included while the providers of other services are not? Why should the providers of all services in the locality not be included as stakeholders? Many other services are provided, including educational, health care and employment services.

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