Vol. 567 No. 1
325 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if the recent agreement between the Medical Protection Society and his Department has been deemed to be in compliance with competition rules by the European Commission. [13574/03]
I understand that the Medical Defence Union has complained to the European Commission that agreements entered into between my Department and the Medical Protection Society may be in breach of European rules on the granting of state aids. These agreements were made in order to ensure that obstetricians practising in Ireland could continue to have access to professional indemnity cover at affordable rates. The European Commission has not been in contact with my Department about this complaint. Advice received from counsel suggests that there is no basis in the claim that these agreements constituted state aids.
