asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that some local authorities make it a condition for new entrants to permanent medical posts that they sign their acceptance of rules of conduct for local authority officers and the terms of a letter dated 6th July, 1945, from the Department of Local Government and Public Health notwithstanding that the rules are unacceptable to the Irish Medical Association; and if he will indicate that doctors should not be obliged to accept conditions which are unacceptable to their professional organisation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Officers' Conditions.
3.
I am not aware of the existence of any difficulty of the kind suggested in the question. I should expect that health authorities would at all times be prepared to discuss with representatives of their staffs any conditions which might create difficulties.
Has the Minister not seen the report to the effect that negotiations are going on at the moment between his Department and the Irish Medical Association regarding the requirements of some local authorities that doctors sign and accept all the conditions of employment which apply to other local authority employees? Having regard to the fact that some of these conditions could conflict with a doctor's professional obligations, would the Minister not make further inquiries into the matter and ensure that there is no breach of the confidential relationship which should exist between a doctor and his patients?
In reply to the Deputy, I was fully aware of the facts. Two months ago the Department of Local Government replied to the IMA to the effect that the rules and conditions of the Department would not apply to medical officers. If there are any further difficulties, the IMA should get in touch with the County Managers' Association because it has been specifically stated that whatever rules that may have been declared by the Department of Local Government are not meant to apply to medical officers since they are in a special position.