Health Act, 1970

Chapter II

Officers and Servants, etc.

Chief executive officers of health boards.

13.—(1) There shall be appointed, in respect of each health board established under this Act, a person who shall be called and shall act as the chief executive officer of the board.

(2) (a) Where a chief executive officer will for any reason, other than suspension from performance of his duties, be temporarily unable to act as such, he may, after consultation with the chairman of the health board (or, in his absence, the vice-chairman), appoint one of the other officers of that board to act as deputy chief executive officer for the duration of such inability.

(b) Where a chief executive officer has for any reason become temporarily unable to act as such and either he has not made an appointment under this subsection or an appointment made under this subsection, whether by such chief executive officer or otherwise, has become terminated under paragraph (d), or on account of the death or resignation of the appointee, the chairman of the health board (or, in his absence, the vice-chairman) may appoint one of the other officers of that board to act as deputy chief executive officer for the remainder of the duration of such inability.

(c) The Minister may specify classes of officers who may be appointed as deputy chief executive officer and any appointment under this subsection shall comply with any such specification.

(d) An appointment as deputy chief executive officer may at any time be terminated by the chairman of the health board with the consent of the Minister.

(e) An appointment as deputy chief executive officer shall terminate on the chief executive officer ceasing to be such officer.

(3) Any reference in this Act to a chief executive officer shall be construed as a reference to a person appointed under this section.

(4) A chief executive officer shall hold his office on such terms and conditions and shall perform such duties as the Minister from time to time determines.

(5) There shall be paid by a health board to its chief executive officer such remuneration and allowances as the Minister from time to time determines.

(6) The Minister may, before the establishment of a health board—

(a) request the Local Appointments Commissioners to select under section 15 a person for appointment as chief executive officer of the board,

(b) arrange for the training of a person so selected, and

(c) meet out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, any expenditure (including the payment, until the establishment of the board, of remuneration to a person so selected) incurred under this subsection.

(7) On the establishment of the appropriate board, a person selected in accordance with subsection (6) shall be deemed to have been appointed to be the chief executive officer of that board.

(8) The appointment of a chief executive officer pursuant to a recommendation by the Local Appointments Commissioners made otherwise than for the purposes of subsection (6) shall be a function of the board.

(9) A temporary appointment of a chief executive officer may be made by the Minister after consultation with the chairman of the board or, in his absence, the vice-chairman of the board.