At national level, Members of the Oireachtas will continue to be involved in the overall governance of the health system through their participation in various committees, for example, the Joint Committee on Health and Children and the Committee of Public Accounts. The new structures will be designed to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between national priorities and local requirements but in a context which best serves the needs of the whole health system and the population overall. The Government has also accepted that there is a need to strengthen existing arrangements for consumer panels and regional co-ordinating-advisory committees in representing the voice of service users. These structures incorporate patients, clients and other users, or their advocates. They work to provide a bottom-up approach to understanding the needs of service users at a regional planning level. These existing models are at different stages of development and will continue to be enhanced. I am conscious of the concerns about the adequate governance of the new structures in a radically restructured health system.