Vol. 543 No. 1
150 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the opinion of the Irish Medical Organisation that the Medical Council's proposal to refuse recognition to temporarily registered non-consultant hospital doctors in non-training posts will have an adverse effect on the health services. [25739/01]
151 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has initiated discussions with the Medical Council which has indicated that from 1 January 2002, it will withdraw recognition from junior hospital doctors with temporary registration who are now working in an accredited training post. [25740/01]
152 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he is considering reforming the status of the Irish Medical Council in view of ongoing decisions being made by the Irish Medical Council concerning medical treatment which has the potential to have an adverse effect on the health services. [25741/01]
155 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the situation where the Irish Medical Organisation has told his Department that legislation is necessary to allow non-European Union doctors to become fully registered with the Irish Medical Council and that a further extension of temporary registration is no longer acceptable to its non-European Union members. [25744/01]
158 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has had discussions or meetings with the Irish Medical Council regarding the council's regulations which will only allow temporarily registered doctors to work in approved posts. [25747/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 to 152, inclusive, and 155 and 158 together.
The Irish Medical Council is the authority responsible for the provision of registration and control of persons engaged in the practice of medicine under the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978. The council protects the interests of the public when dealing with registered medical practitioners. The principal roles of the council include assuring the quality of undergraduate education and postgraduate training, registering doctors, disciplinary procedures and providing guidance on professional standards and ethical conduct. It is the policy of the Medical Council that all non-consultant hospital doctors should be in posts which have been accredited for training purposes and both the council and the training bodies are actively addressing this requirement.
A meeting was held earlier this week involving officials of my Department, the key statutory agencies, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and representatives of the chief executive officers of the health boards/health authorities. Current issues in relation to service provision, training standards and quality assurance within the public hospital service were discussed. It was agreed to prepare proposals for addressing these issues which will be the subject of consideration at a further meeting of the parties concerned.
As the Deputy will be aware the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978 is currently under review. The review being carried out takes into consideration various developments in the medical field and the role of the Medical Council and other statutory bodies. The revised Medical Practitioners Act will take account of the concerns raised in the course of consultations, including issues concerning registration.
153 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has regarding the Irish Medical Organisation's statement that they will ballot their non-consultant hospital doctor members working in anaesthetics on industrial action if he does not direct hospital managers to fully implement the 2000 pay and conditions agreement. [25742/01]
I am aware of the recent statements made by the Irish Medical Organisation arising from the ongoing difference in interpretation regarding the application of overtime rates. I met the Irish Medical Organisation in relation to the ongoing implementation of the NCHD 2000 Agreement earlier this year and the overtime issue has also been the subject of correspondence with the Irish Medical Organisation in the interim. Throughout this period I have requested that the matter should be referred to the Labour Relations Commission for its considered view. Both the HSEA and the Department of Health and Children agree to accept the outcome of such clarification by the LRC. I am anxious to have this issue resolved at an early date.
I highlight that £90 million in additional funding has been allocated to NCHDs in the current year. There has been and will continue to be very significant investment in the terms and conditions applicable to NCHDs.
