Dermot Fitzpatrick (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Exactly. The old health board system worked because of its make-up. Deputy Durkan will remember that when we changed the health board system, many people with medical or paramedical expertise were appointed but they were not prepared to take responsibility. On one famous occasion they would not pass the estimates. It was left to the publicly elected representatives to do so. We shouldered our responsibility but they could not. That is why outsiders are needed. I hope the Minister will request the appointment of one or two local councillors, not Members of the Oireachtas who would have a vested interest or be too close to the action. They would bring an outsider's viewpoint and would not be caught up in the day-to-day business of running health authorities.

A number of medical practitioners have grave concerns about the Bill. However, the Minister must be seen to act for the common good. The membership of the fitness to practise sub-committee of the Medical Council is of the utmost importance. Many believe the council is the fitness to practise committee but that is not the case. Lay people are required to sit on this body also, as they would have a more detached view of matters coming before them.

I am inclined to agree with Deputy ÓFearghaíl's imní about the way it is proposed the fitness to practise committee will go about its business. I agree that if its meetings are to be held in public, there should be an initial screening of complaints coming before it. We have seen how people called before tribunals have been deemed to be guilty of some wrongdoing by the public. We should examine this issue in more detail on Committee Stage and see whether we can devise a screening process. I accept cases should be heard in the public domain. Doctors who transgress and are seen to so do should be examined in public. The information should be in the public arena.

Most appointments to statutory bodies are made by Ministers but in this case the recommendations of the nominating groups will be rubber-stamped by the Minister. He or she would take it that those nominated were people of ability and honour and would have time to do the job. The change in the remit of the Medical Council in regard to education, examining practices and peer reviews will ensure its members will be very busy. They must be able to guarantee that they will have time to give to the business of the council. We should demand no less than this because they will be acting on behalf of the public, not the medical profession. They are there to protect the public, ensure the members of the medical profession keep up to date, are well educated, caring and of high quality.

I fully support the Minister and commend the Bill to the House.

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