Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is the Minister satisfied that he, also, in his role, will more robustly challenge, analyse or scrutinise the recommendations that emanate from various groups to these boards? Ultimately, it is his decision as a member of Government to make the recommendation for Government to accept a recommendation that emanates from these boards. They are supposedly at arm's length from political decisions, and I understand that, but the Minister has a responsibility on behalf of the taxpayer and the Government to ensure that taxpayers' money is well spent and that those who represent the taxpayer on these boards have a line of communication for which, ultimately, he is responsible. This was clearly lacking in the case of the children's hospital, as became clear during the course of the investigation.

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