Health (Amendment) Act 2004
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Number 19 of 2004 |
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HEALTH (AMENDMENT) ACT 2004 |
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS |
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Preliminary and General |
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Health Boards |
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Eastern Regional Health Authority and Area Health Boards |
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Other Provisions Relating to Health Boards, Eastern Regional Health Authority and Area Health Boards |
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Repeal of Enactments |
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Number 19 of 2004 |
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HEALTH (AMENDMENT) ACT 2004 |
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AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH BOARDS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE HEALTH ACT 1970, THE EASTERN REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, THE NORTHERN AREA HEALTH BOARD, THE EAST COAST AREA HEALTH BOARD AND THE SOUTH-WESTERN AREA HEALTH BOARD SHALL CEASE TO HOLD OFFICE UPON THE COMMENCEMENT OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUNCTIONS OF THOSE BODIES SHALL BE PERFORMED BY THEIR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND, IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, BY THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND CHILDREN; TO REMOVE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN RESERVED AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS; FOR THOSE PURPOSES TO AMEND THE HEALTH ACT 1970, THE HEALTH (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) ACT 1996, THE HEALTH (EASTERN REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY) ACT 1999 AND OTHER ENACTMENTS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH. |
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[8th June, 2004] |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: |
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PART 1 Preliminary and General |
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Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement. |
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Health (Amendment) Act 2004 . |
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(2) The Health Acts 1947 to 2001 and this Act may be cited as the Health Acts 1947 to 2004 and shall be construed together as one Act. |
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(3) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes and for the repeal of different enactments effected by section 3 and the Schedule. |
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Definitions. |
2.—(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires— |
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“Act of 1996” means the Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 1996 ; |
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“Act of 1999” means the Health (Eastern Regional Health Authority) Act 1999 ; |
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“Area Health Board” has the meaning assigned to it by the Act of 1999; |
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“Eastern Regional Health Authority” means the Eastern Regional Health Authority established by section 7 of the Act of 1999; |
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“health board” has the same meaning as it has in the Principal Act; |
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“Minister” means the Minister for Health and Children; |
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“Principal Act” means the Health Act 1970 ; and |
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“Regional Chief Executive” has the meaning assigned to it by section 12 of the Act of 1999. |
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(2) In this Act— |
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(a) a reference to a Part, section or Schedule is a reference to a Part or section of, or Schedule to, this Act unless it is indicated that a reference to some other enactment is intended, |
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(b) a reference to a subsection is a reference to the subsection of the section in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended, and |
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(c) a reference to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment, as amended, adapted or extended, whether before or after the commencement of this subsection, by or under any subsequent enactment. |
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Repeals. |
3.—(1) The enactments mentioned in column (2) of the Schedule are repealed to the extent mentioned in column (3) of that Schedule. |
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(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the following provisions of the Health Board Regulations 1970 ( S.I. No. 170 of 1970 ) shall continue in force after the commencement of subsection (1) (insofar as that subsection relates to section 4 of the Principal Act), that is to say: |
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(a) paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 5; |
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(b) paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 6; |
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(c) paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 7; |
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(d) paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 8; |
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(e) paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 9; |
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(f) paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 10; and |
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(g) paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 11. |
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PART 2 Health Boards |
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Amendment of section 4 of Principal Act. |
4.—Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by the deletion, in subsection (1), of the words “and, subject to subsection (2), shall specify the membership of each health board”, and the said subsection (1) as so amended is set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 5 of Principal Act. |
5.—Section 5 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following subsection: |
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“(4) The seal of the board shall be authenticated by the signature of the chief executive officer of the board, or any person for the time being performing the functions of chief executive officer of the board, and the signature of another officer of the board authorised to act in that behalf.”. |
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Amendment of section 13 of Principal Act. |
6.—(1) Section 13 of the Principal Act is amended by— |
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(a) the deletion, in paragraph (a) of subsection (2), of “, after consultation with the chairman of the health board (or, in his absence, the vice-chairman),”, |
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(b) the substitution, in paragraph (b) of that subsection, of “the Minister” for “the chairman of the health board (or, in his absence, the vice-chairman)”, |
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(c) the substitution, in paragraph (d) of that subsection, of “the Minister” for “the chairman of the health board with the consent of the Minister”, and |
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(d) the deletion, in subsection (9), of the words “after consultation with the chairman of the board or, in his absence, the vice-chairman of the board”, |
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and the said subsections (2) and (9) as so amended are set out in the Table to this subsection. |
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(2) Section 13 of the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (8): |
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“(8) The appointment of a chief executive officer pursuant to a recommendation of the Local Appointments Commissioners shall be a function of the Minister.”. |
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Amendment of section 22 of Principal Act. |
7.—Section 22 of the Principal Act is amended, in subsection (1), by the deletion of the words “, after consultation with the chairman of the board or, in his absence, the vice-chairman of the board,”, and the said subsection (1) as so amended is set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 23 of Principal Act. |
8.—Section 23 of the Principal Act is amended, in subsection (1), by the substitution of “and (3)” for “to (4)”, and the said subsection (1) as so amended is set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 3 of Act of 1996. |
9.—The Act of 1996 is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 3: |
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“3.—The functions of a health board shall be performed by its chief executive officer.”. |
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Amendment of section 4 of Act of 1996. |
10.—Section 4 of the Act of 1996 is amended, in subsection (3), by the substitution of “functions” for “executive functions”, and the said subsection (3) as so amended is set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 6 of Act of 1996. |
11.—Section 6 of the Act of 1996 is amended by— |
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(a) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3): |
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“(3) If a service plan is not submitted to the Minister in accordance with subsection (1), the Minister may, by direction in writing, require the chief executive officer of the health board concerned to submit a service plan to him or her— |
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(a) not later than 10 days from the receipt of the direction by the chief executive officer, or |
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(b) not later than such earlier date as may be specified in the direction, |
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and the chief executive officer of that health board shall comply with any such direction.”, |
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(b) the substitution, in subsection (1), of “make” for “adopt”, and |
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(c) the substitution, in subsection (6), of the words “direct the chief executive officer to make modifications to the service plan and the chief executive officer shall comply with any such direction” for “direct the health board or, in the case of a service plan submitted in accordance with subsection (4), the chief executive officer, to make modifications to the service plan and the board or the chief executive officer, as the case may be, shall comply with any such direction”, |
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and the said subsections (1) and (6) as so amended are set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 11 of Act of 1996. |
12.—Section 11 of the Act of 1996 is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3): |
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“(3) The annual financial statements of a health board shall be submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General on or before the 1st day of April in the year immediately following the financial year to which they relate.”. |
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Amendment of section 14 of Act of 1996. |
13.—Section 14 of the Act of 1996 is amended by— |
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(a) the substitution, in subsection (2), of “Minister” for “health board”, |
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(b) the substitution, in subsection (3), of “Minister” for “health board with the consent of the Minister”, and |
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(c) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (5): |
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“(5) The appointment pursuant to a recommendation by the Local Appointments Commissioners and the removal of a chief executive officer in accordance with this section shall be a function of the Minister.”, |
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and the said subsections (2) and (3) as so amended are set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 15 of Act of 1996. |
14.—Section 15 of the Act of 1996 is amended by— |
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(a) the substitution, in subsection (1), of “make” for “adopt”, and |
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(b) the substitution, in subsection (4), of “making” for “adopting”, |
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and the said subsections (1) and (4) as so amended are set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of Health Act 1947. |
15.—(1) Section 78 of the Act of 1947 is amended, in subsection (1), by the substitution of the words “with the consent of the Minister” for “subject to any general directions given by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance”, and the said subsection (1) as so amended is set out in the Table to this subsection. |
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(2) Section 89 of the Act of 1947 is amended, in subsection (1), by the substitution of the words “with the consent of the Minister” for “subject to any general directions given by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance”, and the said subsection (1) as so amended is set out in the Table to this subsection. |
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(3) In this section “Act of 1947” means the Health Act 1947 . |
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PART 3 Eastern Regional Health Authority and Area Health Boards |
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Amendment of section 4 of Act of 1999. |
16.—Section 4 of the Act of 1999 is amended by the substitution of “section 21(14)” for “sections 11(2), 16(1) and 21(14)”, and the said section 4 as so amended is set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 5 of Act of 1999. |
17.—Section 5 of the Act of 1999 is amended, in subsection (1), by the deletion of the words “and the local authority concerned”, and the said subsection (1) as so amended is set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 7 of Act of 1999. |
18.—Section 7 of the Act of 1999 is amended by the insertion of the following subsection: |
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“(3A) The seal of the Authority shall be authenticated by the signature of the Regional Chief Executive, or any person for the time being performing the functions of the Regional Chief Executive, and the signature of another officer of the Authority authorised to act in that behalf.”. |
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Amendment of section 10 of Act of 1999. |
19.—Section 10 of the Act of 1999 is amended, in subsection (2)(a), by the deletion of the words “section 9(2) and”, and the said subsection (2)(a) as so amended is set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 12 of Act of 1999. |
20.—Section 12 of the Act of 1999 is amended, in subsection (1), by the substitution of “the Minister shall” for “the Authority shall”, and the said subsection (1) as so amended is set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 14 of Act of 1999. |
21.—Section 14 of the Act of 1999 is amended by the insertion of the following subsection: |
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“(3A) The seal of an Area Health Board shall be authenticated by the signature of its area chief executive, or any other person for the time being performing the functions of area chief executive in relation to that Area Health Board, and another officer of that Area Health Board authorised to act in that behalf.”. |
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Amendment of section 15 of Act of 1999. |
22.—Section 15 of the Act of 1999 is amended, in subsection (1), by the deletion of the words “in accordance with section 9(1)”, and the said subsection (1) as so amended is set out in the Table to this section. |
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Amendment of section 17 of Act of 1999. |
23.—(1) Section 17 of the Act of 1999 is amended by the substitution, in subsections (1) and (3), of “Minister” for “Authority”. |
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(2) Section 17 of the Act of 1999 is amended by the substitution, in subsection (10), of “Minister” for “Authority, with the consent of the Minister,”, and the said subsection (10) as so amended is set out in the Table to this subsection. |
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Amendment of section 21 of Act of 1999. |
24.—Section 21 of the Act of 1999 is amended by— |
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(a) the substitution, in subsection (4), of “functions” for “executive functions” in each place that it occurs, and |
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(b) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (16): |
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“(16) The chief executive officer of a health board may require the Executive to perform a function on his or her behalf.”. |
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Performance of functions of Eastern Regional Health Authority and Area Health Boards. |
25.—The Act of 1999 is amended by— |
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(a) the insertion of the following section: |
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“8A.—The functions of the Authority shall be performed by the Regional Chief Executive.”, |
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and |
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(b) the insertion of the following section: |
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“15A.—The functions of an Area Health Board shall be performed by its area chief executive.”. |
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PART 4 Other Provisions Relating to Health Boards, Eastern Regional Health Authority and Area Health Boards |
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Amendment of section 220 of the Local Government Act 2001 . |
26.— Section 220 of the Local Government Act 2001 is amended, in the definition in subsection (1) of “linked body”, by the deletion of the words “a health board established under the Health Act, 1970 , the Eastern Regional Health Authority, and Area Health Board established under the Health (Eastern Regional Health Authority) Act, 1999 ,”, and the said definition as so amended is set out in the Table to this section. |
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Termination of office. |
27.—(1) Every person who, immediately before the commencement of this section, was a member of a health board shall cease to hold office as such member upon and from the date of the said commencement. |
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(2) Every person who, immediately before the commencement of this section, was a member of the Eastern Regional Health Authority shall cease to hold office as such member upon and from the date of the said commencement. |
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(3) Every person who, immediately before the commencement of this section, was a member of an Area Health Board shall cease to hold office as such member upon and from the date of the said commencement. |
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Provisions consequent upon section 27 . |
28.—(1) Anything commenced and not completed before the commencement of Part 2 and section 27 by a health board may, on or after such commencement, be carried on or completed by the chief executive officer of that health board. |
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(2) Anything commenced and not completed before the commencement of Part 3 and section 27 by the Eastern Regional Health Authority may, on or after such commencement, be carried on or completed by the Regional Chief Executive. |
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(3) Anything commenced and not completed before the commencement of Part 3 and section 27 by an Area Health Board may, on or after such commencement, be carried on or completed by the chief executive officer of that Area Health Board. |
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Accountability to certain Committees of Houses of Oireachtas. |
29.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), a chief executive officer shall, at the request in writing of a Committee, attend before it to give account for the general administration of the health body concerned. |
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(2) A chief executive officer shall not be required to give account before a Committee for any matter which is or has been or is likely to be the subject of proceedings before a court or tribunal in the State. |
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(3) Where a chief executive officer is of the opinion that a matter in respect of which he or she is requested to give an account before a Committee is a matter to which subsection (2) applies, he or she shall inform the Committee of that opinion and the reasons for the opinion and, unless the information is conveyed to the Committee at a time when the chief executive officer concerned is before it, the information shall be so conveyed in writing. |
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(4) Where a chief executive officer has informed a Committee of his or her opinion in accordance with subsection (3) and the Committee does not withdraw the request referred to in subsection (1) in so far as it relates to a matter the subject of that opinion— |
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(a) the chief executive officer concerned may, not later than 21 days after being informed by the Committee of its decision not to do so, apply to the High Court in a summary manner for determination of the question whether the matter is one to which subsection (2) applies, or |
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(b) the Chairperson of the Committee may, on behalf of the Committee, make such an application, |
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and the High Court shall determine that matter. |
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(5) Pending the determination of an application under subsection (4), the chief executive officer concerned shall not attend before the Committee to give account for the matter the subject of the application. |
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(6) If the High Court determines that the matter concerned is one to which subsection (2) applies, the Committee shall withdraw the request referred to in subsection (1), but if the High Court determines that subsection (2) does not apply, the chief executive officer concerned shall attend before the Committee to give account for the matter. |
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(7) In the performance of his or her duties under this section, a chief executive officer shall not question or express an opinion on the merits of any policy of the Government or a Minister of the Government or on the merits of the objectives of such a policy. |
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(8) In this section— |
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“chief executive officer” means— |
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(a) the chief executive officer of a health board, |
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(b) the Regional Chief Executive, or |
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(c) the area chief executive of an Area Health Board; |
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“Committee” means a committee appointed by either House of the Oireachtas or jointly by both Houses of the Oireachtas or a subcommittee of such a committee, other than— |
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(a) the Committee established under the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann to examine and report to Dáil Éireann on the appropriation accounts and reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, or |
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(b) the Committee on Members' Interests of Dáil Éireann or the Committee on Members' Interests of Seanad Éireann; |
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“health body” means— |
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(a) a health board, |
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(b) the Eastern Regional Health Authority, or |
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(c) an Area Health Board. |
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SCHEDULE Repeal of Enactments |
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