Seanad debates

Wednesday, 25 June 2003

Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed).

 

In both reports great emphasis is put on the fact that the health boards are to be abolished. It is right that we do this, because there are too many. Like other speakers, however, I am not only interested in denigrating the health boards. I had to leave the debate for about half an hour to go to Cherish, the organisation for single mothers, of which I am president, and give out certificates. Ever since Cherish was set up 30 years ago, we could not have managed without the support of the Eastern Health Board and subsequently the Eastern Regional Health Authority. I hope the sort of personal attention that can be given – and was given – to various problems by the health boards is not lost in this great new mechanism, because it has been very important. Cherish would not have managed without it. I went over to give out certificates to people who had done computer courses and so on and were now going into employment. Initiatives such as this need to be encouraged. I hope that with whatever mechanisms are put in place, we will be able to take account of what people are trying to do on the ground.

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