Will the Minister say whether the Medical Council is satisfied with the reduction from four to two years? It is a significant reduction.
Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages.
Sections 1 to 4, inclusive, agreed to.
SECTION 5.
Question proposed: "That section 5 stand part of the Bill."
I understand that as a result of the reduction proposed in this Bill the position would be the same as that in the UK and for that reason it was agreeable to the council.
Question put and agreed to.
Section 6 agreed to.
SECTION 7.
Question proposed: "That section 7 stand part of the Bill."
This is a particularly useful section. It will not just serve to keep an eye on doctors who come into the State to perform cosmetic surgery on an ad hoc basis, but it will also allow for the entry to the State of specialist doctors who come here to demonstrate intricate surgical procedures to our registered doctors. I commend the Minister and her officials for including this important section in the Bill.
Question put and agreed to.
Section 8 agreed to.
SECTION 9.
Question proposed: "That section 9 stand part of the Bill."
Does the Minister know whether the UK will reciprocate regarding internships?
Not at this stage. That is an issue that I would like to have addressed at EU level. We will follow up on that bilaterally.
It would be a good idea to follow this up bilaterally. It was a terrible blow when the UK decided to withdraw the facility where Irish interns could train in its hospitals. That action was one of the reasons which led to the establishment of supernumeraries whereby non-EU doctors ended up working for nothing. That was our solution to that problem and it was not a good one. However, it has been stopped but we need to keep after them about it.
I encourage the Minister to follow Senator Henry's advice in relation to bilaterals with the United Kingdom, particularly in the context of North-South links.
We have established schemes on a cross-Border basis, admittedly at SHO level, but one never knows when an intern might be involved. It is, therefore, very important to get them organised on this issue.
Question put and agreed to.
Section 10 agreed to.
SECTION 11.
Question proposed: "That section 11 stand part of the Bill."
How soon does the Minister of State think the Bill will commence?
It better be quick because these people are needed at once.
As soon as possible, although there is not, as yet, an early commencement order.
Question put and agreed to.
Section 12 agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment and received for final consideration.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."
I thank the Minister for always being so co-operative in the House. However, it is vital the Department of Health and Children receives the message to push on with this Bill. Regarding the registration of other health professionals, for the past two years no chiropodists have been appointed because there are no people to register them in this country. This is having a serious practical effect on people involved in general medical services. It is most important that the Minister's aspirational speech materialises into a Bill before the House as soon as possible.
This is a very important Bill because it ensures we will retain doctors. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Hanafin, and the Minister, Deputy Martin, on the amount of work they are doing to streamline the health service and to give us an excellent health service.
I also wish the Minister well with the Bill.
Question put and agreed to.