Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Section 7 provides for the establishment of a public forum with between 12 and 60 members. What is the purpose of this forum? I do not think it will have any powers or real functions. It is like the HSE health forum in the west, which is a talking shop in my experience. It has no powers or functions, and it cannot formulate policy for the health services because they are governed nationally by the HSE. Is the purpose of this forum simply to dress up Irish Water with the pretence that people will have a say in how it is run? Will the members of the forum be political appointees or will they be recruited through advertisements? Will it be filled with failed Labour Party councillors who were not elected in the last local elections? I cannot see any reason for establishing this forum. We have a health forum in Galway and nothing comes out of it because it is a publicity stunt for councillors who want to get their names on radio or television by attacking HSE officials. I cannot see a justification for establishing this forum.

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