Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is simply not reconcilable that one can be the director general of the HSE and also serve on the board of a company whose chair is also the chair of an Irish hospital. I do not understand why the Taoiseach does not get that. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, made a grave error in facilitating Mr. O'Brien joining that board. I have no personal issue with Mr. O'Brien but the bottom line is that if one holds the most senior position in the Irish health service, that is the person's position. If a person wants to do something else, the person should resign or retire and do something else but not do both. There is a real potential conflict of interest given the huge competition for resources between hospitals in Dublin, of which the Taoiseach is as aware as I am. A clear conflict of interest is staring the Taoiseach in the face.

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