Vol. 503 No. 5
31 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the need for legislative change to establish competence assurance structures as recommended by the Medical Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10468/99]
The Medical Council produced a discussion paper on competence assurance structures in 1998. This paper recognises that the pace of change in medicine demands that doctors constantly upgrade and maintain their clinical skills. Changes will be required in the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978 to give statutory effect to the Council's proposals. The Medical Practitioners Act is currently being reviewed in the Department with a view to bring ing forward amending legislation later this year. I have met with the Medical Council in recent weeks in relation to amending the Act and their input into the process. It is my intention that these proposals will be examined as part of discussions on the amending legislation. However, they will require some consultation and study before they can be developed into legislative proposals.
