Health Act, 1953

Consultative health committees.

48.—(1) The council of a county (other than Dublin, Cork or Waterford) shall by resolution appoint a consultative health committee to advise the county manager on general matters (other than conditions of employment of officers and servants, the amount or payment of grants or allowances or the making of any service available to an individual) relating to the exercise of the functions of the council in relation to the operation of the Principal Act or this Act.

(2) An appointment under subsection (1) of this section shall be made by the council of a county as soon as conveniently may be—

(a) after the commencement of this section, and

(b) after each election of the members of the council.

(3) A consultative health committee shall consist of ten members, including—

(a) not less than four members of the council of the county,

(b) the county medical officer for the county,

(c) the county surgeon for the county or, if there is no such officer, a senior medical officer in a health institution maintained by the council of the county,

(d) two other registered medical practitioners residing in the county, each of whom is nominated by a body which, in the opinion of the council of the county, is representative of registered medical practitioners practising in the county.

(4) A consultative health committee shall meet—

(a) when requested to meet by resolution of the council of the county or by the county manager,

(b) subject to subsection (5) of this section, at such other times as the committee may determine, and

(c) subject to subsection (5) of this section, upon a requisition to call a meeting of the committee signed by not less than four members of the committee, being presented to the county manager.

(5) Where a meeting of a consultative health committee has been held in any month no further meeting shall be held in that month save at the request by resolution of the council of the county or at the request of or with the consent of the county manager.

(6) Every meeting of a consultative health committee shall be held in private.

(7) The foregoing subsections of this section shall apply to the Limerick City Council as if they were the council of a county, with the following modifications:—

(a) any reference to the county manager shall be construed as a reference to the Limerick City Manager,

(b) the reference in paragraph (b) of subsection (3) to the county medical officer shall be construed as a reference to the Limerick City Medical Officer.

(8) The Minister shall by regulations provide for the establishment of a consultative health committee for each of the following areas:—

(a) the county borough of Dublin and the county of Dublin,

(b) the county borough of Cork and the county of Cork, and

(c) the county borough of Waterford and the county of Waterford,

and any such regulations shall provide for the application to the committee of the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (6) of this section with any modifications which the Minister thinks fit.