Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I sympathise with the perspective expressed. Last week I had a lengthy discussion with Senators Glynn, Feeney and Leyden on these points. The HSE and the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, were established after health reform analysis of the Prospectus and Brennan reports. They recommended the establishment of a single entity in place of the health boards in the case of the HSE. Valid arguments were proposed in favour of this measure. Regarding the HIQA, the advice was to appoint experts to the board. We now have regulatory bodies. I have sympathy with those who believe councillors, members of the European Parliament and Members of the Oireachtas may have the expertise required. That they are politicians does not mean they cannot have the expertise to be on such bodies.

There is much concern, especially in regard to the Medical Council, that lay majorities would be partisan. Under this legislation the Minister will appoint fewer people than under the regime in 1978. The Minister could appoint six in 1978 and the figure now has been reduced to five. The Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, gave a commitment here last week. We need to bring clarity across Government in regard to the bodies of which councillors can be members and the bodies from which they are prohibited from being members. I have undertaken to bring proposals to Government. We should have an informed debate, with a small group of people analysing and examining the practice in other countries, consulting with the General Council of County Councillors and other representative bodies and political parties. The group could then make proposals that would have broad support across the House. That would be a worthwhile exercise. I will bring the proposals to the Cabinet within two weeks and we can clarify the issue over the summer months. There is major concern for local authority members, particularly in this House. I have given an undertaking to consult.

The Medical Council, individual members of the board and doctors who spoke to me were concerned that moving to a lay majority should not make the council partisan. Senator Feeney is a member of one of the committees of the council. One is not excluded from doing the job professionally and objectively because one is a politician. I do not want confused signals to the effect that the Minister seeks a lay majority to take political control of the council.