Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

It is worth bearing in mind that many well-qualified people of all persuasions are members of local authorities. One finds doctors, nurses, surgeons and dentists. Need I go on? As has been said, and I think the case speaks for itself, we are not saying that they should become members of the Health Information and Quality Authority, but it should not be enshrined in law that they be debarred. This conveys the impression that if one is a member of a local authority, there is something wrong with one and that one has done something awful.

There is a very famous film called "The Singer Not the Song". There is no reason an individual, irrespective of whether he or she is a member of a local authority, the Dáil, the Seanad, the European Parliament or any other trade or profession, should be excluded from membership of the Health Information and Quality Authority. The fact that it is contained in this Bill is ludicrous. I again appeal to the Minister of State to drop this provision.