John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley, is departing the scene knowing quite well that what is being proposed here is the type of stunt we associate with other parties, perhaps the senior member in the coalition arrangement. His party has always professed itself to be above this type of action and it is actually engaging in it. That is regrettable and the Green Party will oppose the amendment. My colleague, Deputy Boyle, has outlined the reasons we wish to see people with real qualifications and particularly people from the institutes of technology becoming involved in the council.

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