Some nice back-pedalling there, Annet! There is a big difference between "world reknown health management experts with proven business acumen" (which I wouldn´t disagree with) and "somebody with business acumen".
Health isn´t a business. It is a public service. The objective of a business is to make money. The objective of a public service is to provide services to the public. There is of course a need for huge changes in our current health service, but the primary requirement for new staff should not be ´business acumen´.
Whether health is seen as a business or public service depends on your ideology... and while both can co-exist within one model - in Ireland we seem totally confused in terms of our ideological approach - left wing public health care with universal access together with right wing mechanisms that actively supports private health care and market mechanisms. Whether health care is seen by some as a business or a right depends on whether you see access to health services as a right - whether rights come with responsibilities and remember our legislation vis a vis the Health Acts does not even establish an unequivocal right of access. Taken further, Lisbon mark 2 vis a vis the Charter of fundamental rights has dumbed down the right of access to a high level of health protection. I disagree with the view that health care is not a business - and that's were Ireland has gone wrong in my view... we've pumped endless resources into a system that does not deliver value for money... and if value for money is to be achieved we need persons who are competent - those who understand business and health service management.... and most important fiscal management....