Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I intend to release the heads of the Bill. This will be helpful given that it will be major legislation that will be of great interest not only in this House. A better debate on the Bill will ensue if there is feedback and input at an earlier stage. There will be an ongoing process of competence assurance because we have noted this happens elsewhere. Most of our best doctors constantly attend seminars or international events and keep their skills up to speed by writing in journals and undertaking research. We must ensure this becomes the norm for all specialists in the health care system. The president of the medical council, Dr. Hillery, has done some very innovative work in this area and we are working closely with him on those aspects of the legislation, whatever about the issue of lay participation.

The medical council currently has 25 members. Any member involved in a fitness to practise inquiry could be involved for up to three days a week and this would also entail considerable advance preparation, yet the lay members do not receive any remuneration nor is the fact that they have other lives and other careers taken into account. These are some of the issues that need to be examined. If we want to have lay participation — which most people would welcome — we must facilitate this happening. We must consider the significant time involvement by the current members, particularly those on the fitness to practise committee which is an onerous committee for many of them. It is certain that we would not be able to continue with the current regime on an ongoing basis if there were to be many fitness to practise inquiries in any one year. These inquiries can go on for a considerable length of time.

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