Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support the call by my fellow-spokesperson on health and children, Senator Glynn, for the setting up of a committee of inquiry. He and I met the Minister for Health and Children the night before last when she was as accommodating as possible on the issue. She suggested she would consider setting up a group, including her officials, to examine it.

All Senators feel very strongly that local authority members should not be excluded from bodies established statutorily by the Oireachtas. Senators have all stated this in various debates, be they on transport, justice or health. I do not recognise the merit in excluding local authority members from boards in legislation.

I spoke at a parliamentary party meeting some nights ago about the good education I got as a lay member of the Medical Council and An Bord Altranais, and the value I derived therefrom. I have said in the House that my feelings on Oireachtas Members sitting on such boards are different from those on local authority members doing so.