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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.

John Gormley

Question:

418 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if the proposed amendments to the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Act 2002 will include alterations to the composition of the Medical Council and its fitness to practise committee to include more non-medical personnel, the extension of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and the Ombudsman's right of investigation to include the Medical Council, and the requirement for an annual report to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas detailing statistics on complaints. [30739/03]

The Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Act 2002 amended the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act 1978 in relation to particular registration issues. Draft legislative proposals providing for further wide-ranging amendments to the 1978 Act are in the final stages of preparation in my Department.

It is my intention to provide for changes to the membership of the Medical Council and its committees so that the interests of the public can best be served. This will include an increase in the non-medical representation on the council.

One of the primary concerns of the amending legislation will be to provide for increased public accountability by the council, including in relation to the extension of the Freedom of Information Act to the council and the production of an annual report covering all of the functions of the council.

As the Deputy will be aware, the medical council is excluded from investigation by the Ombudsman, as a body listed in the Second Schedule to the Ombudsman Act 1980. Any changes to that Act would be a matter for the Minister for Finance in the first instance and are not appropriate to the medical practitioners legislation.

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