Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand where Deputy Ó Snodaigh is coming from on this issue. In Galway the health forum provides an opportunity for public representatives, advocacy groups and other persons to participate. It allows everybody to contribute. I note the Minister of State's point that in the future, when the next children's hospital has been established, she will review and engage on the issue in the context of best practice throughout the country. I agree with Deputy Ó Snodaigh that local councillors should not be ruled out because they have a wealth of knowledge about what is going on. I will give an example of what works really well in Galway which has nothing to do with the health service. I refer to the joint policing committees, JPCs. This format could work well in the case of the hospital. The JPCs are made up of councillors and representatives of a wide variety of community groups, all of whom participate in a positive and collaborative way. In the case of the hospital, the members of the board would advocate for staff and the provision of services in working with the Department. That could be a positive result. At this point it might be too prescriptive in writing the future in terms of who can and cannot be considered, but I would not like to see us take the route of ruling out councillors or people with relevant expertise. I cite the JPCs and the health forum as good examples in that regard.

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