Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Amendment No. 20 in my name is pertinent to this evening's private Members' business. Many times, my Sinn Féin colleagues and I have raised the unacceptability of the manner in which people are appointed to State bodies. This Bill is different in that the members of the Medical Council will be nominated by specified bodies. Five lay people will be appointed by the Minister. As we have highlighted however, there is no way for any citizen to access these positions or offer their services or expertise to such bodies. There is no provision for this in the Bill or any other legislation presented to the House in the past five or more years. There is no openness in the process which requires address. In deference to my colleagues in the Green Party, their private Members' Bill will seek to address this serious deficiency. I will support their Bill when it is voted on later tonight.

As it is expected that the Government will not accept the Green Party private Members' Bill, I ask the Minister to accept amendment No. 20. It will allow for an additional safeguard in the whole process of the appointment of lay persons to the council. This will serve at least two purposes. It will temper the extensive powers, highlighted by all Opposition Members, that the Minister is providing for vis-À-vis the role of the council. It will also add substance to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children and strengthen its scrutiny role.

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