Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In fairness, transparency is already provided for in the Bill because the Minister is accountable to the Houses. There is also full transparency in regard to appointments to all boards. On the issue of a person being required to have expertise in a particular area, I served on a State board for ten years. I was appointed to that board by Cork City Council on the basis of my legal expertise. It is helpful for a board to have members who have legal expertise in dealing with issues such that membership of this board is not all about medical expertise. A Minister would be silly to appoint people who do not have expertise in a particular area. The national children's hospital board will require a particular blend of people because this is going to be a major facility comprising medical consultants, nurses, catering staff, care assistants and many others who provide services to the hospital. It will also be tasked with ensuring that adequate information is getting out to the people on the front line, such as general practitioners. The board will also need people with management or legal experience to ensure it can take decisions which are in the best interests of the efficient running of the hospital for the benefit of the children who require it and their parents.