Mary White (Fianna Fail)

The Health Act 1970 relates to the scope and level of activities mandated to health boards. These have increased and that is why the legislation is necessary. During the interim period, individual health boards have evolved at various paces, resulting in considerable variation in their organisation structure, practices and efficiencies. Legislation had to be brought in because of the variation in population growth in different parts of the State.

However, I refer to the future role of elected representatives in regard to health boards. The Prospectus report is among the reports on which the Minister has based the legislation. It states: "In our opinion, democratic input in best represented at regional level through twice yearly meetings between Oireachtas Members in their respective regions and the director of the regional health organisation." When county council members read this statement, they got their act together and were ably led by Councillor Jack Burke. They visited the Oireachtas last October.