State to rush health legislation

The Government will rush emergency health legislation through the Dáil and Seanad next week to confirm that 19 boards, agencies and councils founded by the State have full legal standing.

The bodies include the Blood Transfusion Board, the St James’s Hospital Board, the Beaumont Hospital Board, the Health Research Board, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

All were established under the Health (Corporate Bodies) Act 1961. However, when another new body was being discussed by officials this summer, a query arose about the act and the matter was referred to the Attorney General.