Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

The Association of Health Boards, which met representatives of Fianna Fáil and other parties, received very strong support from within the Fianna Fáil Party. The Minister has rowed back somewhat from the original proposal, which I welcome. I made it clear to all concerned that locally elected members — I said this at a meeting of the Midland Health Board last June when I was interviewed by RTE — are a very important conduit through which complaints can be channelled and opinions made known to the relevant health boards. The Minister has recognised that locally elected members are extremely important and put in place structures to address the issue.