asked the Minister for Health if a new director of the Health Education Bureau has been appointed; and, if so, the method and terms of appointment.

The Health Education Bureau appointed a director on 9 January 1978. The appointment was made after an open competition and is whole-time, permanent and pensionable, subject to the normal probationary arrangements. The salary is within the range £7,220 to £8,720.

Will the Minister state if the advice of the Health Education Council in Britain was sought or offered in the appointment of the director?

I doubt if it was but I am not in a position to state categorically that it was not. As far as I know it was not.

I have a letter from them stating that they did advise on the selection of a director.

We all know that the director was the head of the Fianna Fáil health think-tank when the Minister was in Opposition.

I am not saying that. I am just saying I was surprised to note in a letter from them that they did advise.

The Deputy must be joking. The person appointed was the Minister's chief adviser when Fianna Fáil were in Opposition.

Of course that does not take away from his ability.

Not at all.

I want to assure the House that I had no hand, act or part in the selection of the new director.

I am very happy to know that.

I had no hand, act or part except to approve the appointment when it came before me.

It was a very happy coincidence.

It may well be a coincidence but I can assure the Deputy that what I said was true. I had no hand, act or part in the selection process.

He would have got higher remuneration elsewhere.

I have a note here which says that the bureau nominated the chairman and three other members, Professor Burke, Mr. Delaney and Mr. O'Dwyer to the interview panel. It also arranged to have Dr. Gleeson, President of the IMA, on the panel. I can assure the House I was not in any way involved.

It is a case of "here's Harry" who just happened to fall into the slot.

It is quite immaterial to me whether the Deputy accepts my word for it or not. I am making the statement that I was not involved in any way until the name came before me in the final stages for approval.

I am entitled to dis-believe that——

The Deputy is entitled to do that. He is probably confusing this Government with the practices indulged in so comprehensively by our predecessors.

The Minister had a fair amount of practice——

I am calling the next question.

8.