Councillors sitting on health boards expressed concern that proposed reforms of the boards could make them less accountable.
Senator Margaret Cox (FF), who sits on the Western Health Board, said she would regard a reduction in political representation on health boards as "foolish".
"The assertion that by removing the politicians and getting consumer panels involved would make the health services better is a little bit naive. In my experience the people who really know what is going on and how the services are impacting at grassroots are the politicians."
Mr Simon Coveney, TD, of the Southern Health Board welcomed proposals to reduce the number of boards. "But there are some things in it which are not necessarily good. We have to continue to have accountability. To suggest taking political representation off the boards would be dangerous."
Ms Jane Dillon Byrne, (Labour) of the Eastern Health Board, said: "I would have no objection in principle to any reduction in the number of health boards or political representation . . . but I would be concerned that there would have to be continued openness and accountability."
Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Féin TD on the North Eastern Health Board, said the proposals would make the health service "less accountable to the needs of patients and communities. There are too many health boards and too much bureaucracy in the administration of the health services. But it is also true that there is a lack of democratic accountability and these proposals would make the services even less accountable to the citizen," said Mr Ó Caoláin.
Ms Beverly Cooper-Flynn, TD, who sits on the Western Health Board said: "A reduction in the political presence on health boards would be something I would not be so keen on.
"The politicians are the ones who really bring to the board how the services are impacting on the ordinary person, they are the go-between between the service user and provider."
Mr John Maloney (FF), TD, who sits on the South Eastern Health Board, said he would welcome a reduction in the number of politicians on health boards. The pressure on them was "unreal and unbearable".
They often were under pressure to represent their own counties' immediate interests, sometimes to the detriment of the wider interests of the region.
