Councillor Ciaran Brogan is the new Chair of HSE Regional Health Forum West 

Long standing member of the HSE Regional Health Forum West, Cllr Ciaran Brogan has been unanimously elected Chair at its annual general meeting in Galway this afternoon.

Cllr Brogan was also the outgoing Vice Chair of the Regional Health Forum in the western area that stretches from Donegal to Limerick and over to North Tipperary.

He was nominated by Cllr Michael Collins from Limerick City and County Council and seconded by Cllr Edel McSharry from Sligo County Council, both party colleagues from Fianna Fáil. 

In nominating the Donegal man as Chair, Cllr Collins intimated that Cllr Brogan would “be a safe pair of hands” and had been a member of the forum since it was first constituted in 2005.

He said: “I’ve known Ciaran quite a number of years and he comes with vast experience, he’s been a councillor since 1999 and has also been a member of the health forum, since it was formed in 2005.

“So Ciaran comes with vast experience and knowledge of how the health forum works and I know that he will be a very reliable and safe pair of hands as Chair of the Health Forum.”

After Cllr Brogan took the Chair, he thanked his colleagues and told members that the forum was one of the best that he had served on and that the staff and officers were extremely helpful with regard to all councillors queries and follow ups.

He said: “I have been on this forum since it was formed in 2005 and being from Letterkenny and Donegal in the north west I am very familiar with the workings of the forum and very familiar with the members of the forum. And I am proud to have represented my area over the years here. 

“I have to say that it is one of the best forums that I have been on politically, cross party there is huge mutual respect, that is important and we have a great team at the top table led by Tony (Canavan)."

He added jokingly: "It wasn't easy for a Donegal man coming down here to Galway today after Sunday. I was just going to join online and I thought I would just come down and face the music. I have to pay tribute to the Galway team and its supporters as well and hopefully we will be back again."  

It was the first meeting held since the local elections in June and the five county council representatives from Donegal include three new faces of which two were already serving councillors and one newly elected councillor.

The five members appointed by Donegal County Council include Ciaran Brogan, Fianna Fáil, Gerry McMonagle, Sinn Féin (both outgoing members of the regional health forum), Declan Meehan, Independent, Gary Doherty, Sinn Féin and Michéal Naughton, Fianna Fáil.

Those that sat on the forum last time out included Gerry Crawford and Tom Conaghan, both of whom no longer sit on the council.

Meanwhile, newly elected Cllr Declan Meehan from the Milford LEA whose apologies were noted at not being able to attend the July meeting, is replacing Cllr Albert Doherty from the Inishowen MD on the forum.

The 40 members of the Regional Health Forum, West also includes members from Clare County Council, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Leitrim County Council, Limerick City & County Council, Mayo County Council, North Tipperary County Council, Roscommon County Council and Sligo County Council.