The Minister for Health, Micheál Martin, has published a new bill which will end the role of elected members on the country's health boards and on the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
Speaking on RTÉ news, Mr Martin said there were too many agencies delivering health care in Ireland, and the bill would allow him to create more uniform and equitable service delivery.
Earlier, Mr Martin also revealed that he hoped to set up a forum for public representatives to express their views, and denied that this would simply be a talking shop.
