This article is from page 10 of the 2006-09-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
THE chairman of the Regional Health Forum West, made up of local representatives from the west of Ireland, including Clare, will have to elect a new chairman later today when it returns from its summer recess.
In a shock move, chairman of the forum, Sligo councillor Aidan Colleary (FF) resigned the chair, the first ever in the history of the HSE to do so.
The HSE west has a history of firsts. It was also the first of these groups ever to meet in the new look health service.
It is unknown why the Fianna Fáil councillor resigned the position mid-term, but he is to remain part of the forum.
He was supported in his nomination to head up the HSE forum by Clare Councillors Pat Daly (FF) and Bill Chambers (FF).
The deputy chair, Cllr Kieran Walsh from Limerick will lead the meeting today, and his first order of business will be to elect a replacement for Colleary.
The Fianna Fáil/Labour coalition in the HSE forum is likely to return another Fianna Fáil councillor to the chair.
The Regional Health Forum, West meetings take place every two months in Galway.
The meetings are marketed as a way for county and town councillors to bring local health issues to the HSE executive.
The other two Clare representatives on the HSE forum are Fine Gael councillor Joe Cooney and Green Party councillor Brian Meaney.