Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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279. To ask the Minister for Health the State bodies or boards that fall under the remit of his Department; and the number of members of each State body or board who are not qualified within the field in which the board or body has oversight. [43417/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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All members appointed to State Boards should have the appropriate competencies to fulfil their role as members on State Boards. The membership of the boards and State Bodies under my remit is normally specified in the establishing legislation for that board or State Body. Members of boards or bodies for which I have nominating rights, in line with Government Decision S180/20/10/1617 of 2014 and Guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, are appointed following application to the Public Appointments Service. This process results in only those candidates who are deemed to have the relevant competencies and skills to be shortlisted for my consideration for appointment as board members.

I have interpreted the Deputy's question as relating to the regulators of health professions, where best practice would be that there should be a majority of members who are not registered in the profession which is being regulated by that Board. There are 6 Regulatory Bodies and the number of members in each who are registered professionals in the profession which is being regulated is set out in the following table.

The Health and Social Care Professionals Council also provides the administrative support for 10 Registration Boards. The total number of members for each of these Registration Boards is thirteen, six of whom are professional members and seven non-professional members.

The Department is currently developing new legislation to replace the Dentists Act 1985 and the membership of the Dental Council will be addressed in this context.