Minister for Health Dr James Reilly has said he is taking advice from the Attorney General on a number of options with regard to the HSE board, including the possibility of abolishing the board in the longer term.
He said that one long serving member had offered his resignation and the minister would be having discussions with other board members.
He was speaking at the Psychiatric Nurses' Association annual conference in Trim.
Dr Reilly said he wants to move psychiatric nursing away from being the Cinderella of the health service.
He told the Association that their service could not be an afterthought and should have ring-fenced funding.
On the staff moratorium, the minister said that to restore public finances public service numbers had to be cut.
The 2011-2014 employment framework plan in the Health Service Executive provides for 100 psychiatric nursing vacancies to be filled, Dr Reilly added.
Delegates from the 6,600 strong PNA are attending the two-day conference in Trim, Co Meath.
The meeting is being held against the backdrop of the last Government's decision to reduce and eventually eliminate the pay for fourth-year student nurses and HSE moves to reduce pay for agency nurses, in order to save costs.
Some agency nurses have refused to present for work due to the pay reductions.
The Department of Health and Children announced in February that it would review the rationale behind the decision to cut pay for student nurses.
Also up for discussion today is the Croke Park Agreement and the Dutch model of healthcare, in the wake of the Government's plan to introduce Universal Health Insurance, based on elements of the Dutch system.
