Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I begin by thanking the Seanad for considering this Bill today. Before going into the detail of the Bill, I will explain its urgency and I hope Senators will agree that the Bill is important and deserves positive consideration from this House.

The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007 is urgent because of the need to address, without any delay, matters concerning bodies established under the Health Corporate Bodies Act 1961 and technical drafting issues identified regarding the Medical Practitioners Act 2007.

Under the 1961 Act, the Minister for Health and Children is empowered to make orders establishing bodies to carry out a range of health services and activities. Currently, there are 19 such bodies established under the 1961 Act playing extremely important roles right across the spectrum of the Irish health system. These include major hospitals, such as St. James's, Beaumont and St. Luke's and other bodies which deal with specific key health care areas, such as the Blood Transfusion Services Board, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the Drug Treatment Centre.