Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)

The Government has not learned that past performance is a good indicator of future performance. The Minister of State should check what has happened within the HSE, where the role of county councillors, while it was retained, was not kept at a local level. A county councillor from Culdaff would have to travel to Galway to make representations for his constituency and was caught up in the whole debate on water pollution in Galway. In this instance, the diabolical nature of the HSE model is being used as a bailiwick to avoid introducing county councillors to these boards. It is important that there is local county council representation on this board. It is an opportunity missed that should be re-examined.

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