Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 3

Written Answers. - Medical Council Inquiry.

Bernard Allen

Question:

180 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has had contact with the Medical Council in view of the fact that complainants in an investigation (details supplied) have been denied access to the ruling or the final report of the inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31382/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The Medical Council has informed me that the fitness to practise committee of the Medical Council conducted an inquiry into the professional conduct of the doctor in question pursuant to the provisions of Part V of the Medical Practitioners' Act, 1978. I understand that the committee completed its report at the end of November 2001. A copy of the report has been furnished to the legal advisers for the doctor in question and the registrar of the Medical Council. The report is also in the process of being issued to the members of the Medical Council.

I understand from the Medical Council that, on foot of receipt of the report, the legal advisers for the registrar, on his instructions, immediately wrote to the chairman of the inquiry committee drawing attention to the strong representations which had been received from the complainants for sight of the report and in effect seeking a sitting of the committee at which this aspect of the matter could be addressed by both the legal teams for the doctor and the registrar and at which the complainants would be in attendance. Such a sitting is being arranged for later this week.

Accordingly, I have been advised by the Medical Council that the position of the complainants on being given access to the report of the fitness to practise committee, following the inquiry held into the doctor in question, has not been denied and will be determined at the forthcoming hearing before the fitness to practise committee, at which the complainants may be present.