Those who say it is a bad idea to have politicians on health boards are entitled to their opinion. However, I shudder to think of what may happen in future in relation to local initiatives. How will they be recognised and monitored? Do we believe, for one moment, that personnel within the new executives will recognise what is good about the application of this new policy at ground level? The answer is no, because it will never get through the system – the network is in place but there is a gap. We are now going down a road which involves widening that gap and stifling progress on those aspects which were attractive and good. I do not, by any means, suggest that every aspect of the health board system was good. While it may be said that health board administration is top heavy, the reality is that many capable people work in the health boards and many of their good ideas have been put into practice, being incorporated into the Department's system. That will not happen in future, in the context of a top-down, stepped, tiered system from now on. If it works, I will be glad to acknowledge it but I cannot see it working in the future.