Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support what Senator Gilroy said. The amendment is well intentioned As explained earlier by Senator Gilroy and the Minister, we are setting up a transitionary structure and to go through the process of advertising every position that will have to be filled would take too long and would slow down the whole process. When an entity is being restructured, the Minister has to have a fair degree of discretion in trying to get on with the job of bringing about reform.

Section 7, providing for the amendment of the principal Act, states: "An appointed director shall hold office as a member of the Directorate on such terms and conditions as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, may determine." It is not only the Minister for Health who is involved in this, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is also involved. The Minister must have discretion at this crucial time because we have to introduce a good deal of reform. Inserting this amendment in the legislation would only delay that process. I will not be supporting the amendment.