Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019
270. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the responsibility of serving sworn members of An Garda Síochána for providing information to regulatory bodies in respect of a person who is subject to the rules of the statutory body and who may be under investigation by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41945/19]
View answer271. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the regulatory bodies in which there is a legal obligation on serving sworn members of An Garda Síochána to provide information on a person who is subject to the rules of the statutory body and who may be under investigation by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41946/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.
I understand that the Deputy refers in this matter to the Medical Council.
As the Deputy will appreciate, my colleague the Minister for Health holds primary policy responsibility for this area.
I am informed by the Department of Health that the regulation of health professionals in Ireland is the responsibility of the regulators operating under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011, the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, the Pharmacy Act 2007 and the Dentists Act 1985 respectively. These Acts enable each of the relevant health regulators to use fitness to practice processes to address complaints or deal with concerns raised about professionals on their registers, with the overriding objective of protecting the public.
I am further informed by the Department of Health that the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019, which has completed Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann, is intended to amend these five Acts in a number of respects. I understand that among the matters which the Bill addresses is the issue of requests for information to An Garda Síochána by the relevant bodies in the context of fitness to practice processes.
