The process of electing a new chairman of HSE West, the health forum that represents Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Clare, and Limerick, took all of 30 seconds at the AGM this week when sitting chair Cllr Padraig Conneely, Fine Gael, and former Mayor of Galway, was re-elected unanimously without contest.
The item was number one on the agenda of the meeting, but when nominations were sought from the 41 forum members, none were forthcoming other than the proposing and seconding of Cllr Conneely for the position.
“I therefore declare myself elected,” stated a delighted Cllr Connelly, who is known to enjoy the high profile that goes with the public role.
His re-election was warmly welcomed by sitting councillors, none of whom, it appeared, was remotely interested in the position. At one time the position of chairman of the Western Health Board, which subsequently became the HSE, was in huge demand with nominees often having to face a vote by members and recounts to secure election. In current straitened financial times, however, with expenses cut-backs and allowance reductions, the workload and grief entailed in the performance of such public duties are clearly no longer proving as attractive to public representatives.
Mayo members on HSE West include Cllr Seamus Weir, Cllr Annie May Reape, Cllr Patsy O’Brien, Cllr Austin Francis O’Malley, and Cllr Tom Connolly.
