In principle, the Labour Party does not oppose the establishment of a single authority to manage the acute hospital system, nor does it oppose the reduction in the number of health boards. Three more were set up over the past two years in the Dublin area, which highlights the administration issue. A number of people have been saying for a long time that health boards should be abolished, while others recognised the positive role they play. However, the abolition of health boards will mean the abolition of a core element of our democratic system.