Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

This is probably the most important legislation to be introduced by the Minister for Health and Children and has been awaited for 15 years or 20 years. It is long awaited, but it must not be short debated. It is unacceptable to give such important legislation a miserly amount of time.

Like health spokespersons, most Deputies will have received correspondence expressing concerns about the contents of the legislation. The Bill is concerned with protecting patients against malpractice. The Dr. Neary case was an example of the terrible damage that can be done to innocent people. The Bill is also concerned with how the medical profession will be policed and how clinical standards will be maintained and improved in rapidly changing times. These are fundamental issues of medical practice and it is wrong for the Parliament to speed through legislation without proper scrutiny, particularly when a Minister proposes changes to the Medical Council without justification. She has not explained——

See this speech in context