Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The IMO expressed concerns about section 103. It questioned whether it made sense for proceedings to be held in camerauntil adverse findings were made, at which point the whole thing would be made public. I am of two minds about this because we want as much transparency as possible. The IMO's concern is that for practitioners against whom vexatious or well-intentioned but unsubstantiated allegations are made, the proceedings themselves could cause them damage. When no findings are made against that practitioner, the damage potentially remains because of the public nature of the hearings. I am also cognisant of the fact that court cases are held in public, regardless of the findings, except in exceptional circumstances, for children, or in family law, where they are held in camera. I would like to hear the Minister of State's views on the IMO's concerns.