Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no suggestion that we are legislating for 30 or 40 individuals but this change will have an impact on 30 to 40 people who are in place and doing the job. A larger cohort of consultants who may be acting up are not on the specialist register but this does not facilitate them in moving up. This is designed around the 30 or 40 people who have the necessary experience, training and qualifications but who, for bureaucratic or other reasons, did not get on the specialist register at the time but who were perfectly entitled to be on it. They may have to work with the Medical Council on some level but provided they do that, they are perfectly entitled to be on the register. The Medical Council will continue to uphold standards. This legislation will not diminish in any way the standard of consultants in this country. This is just about addressing anomalies. We all know that anomalies can occur when legislation is enacted. Legislative changes can impact negatively on one cohort and positively on another. This is a fairness measure that is designed to give people the same right to access the specialist register as their colleagues with whom they have been working.