Vol. 459 No. 6
86 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that the holding of medical disciplinary inquiries in camera is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights; his views on whether the Medical Council should hold its fitness to practise hearings in public as is the case in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18164/95]
, Limerick East): The Medical Council has statutory responsibility which it exercises through its fitness to practise committee to inquire into the conduct of a registered medical practitioner on the grounds of alleged professional misconduct or on the grounds of unfitness to practise by reason of physical or mental disability. The council has indicated that inquiries convened by its fitness to practise committee are heard in private. It has, however, further indicated that legal advice is being sought on this in light of the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.
