Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 18, to delete lines 24 to 32.

While I welcome that the issue of professional conduct and ethics is excluded from the "general policy directions" in the section, there is a contradiction. On the one hand, the Minister could give general direction on policy to the Medical Council, but the council need not abide by the direction on the other. If it did not believe the direction to be in accordance with its functions, it could decide to fulfil its functions or not to limit its performance in the way it perceives it has been directed. This contradiction would create a problem.

I accept we are moving away from the old idea of pure self-regulation and a closed professional system into a new era, which is for the good, but we must also acknowledge the danger of professionals abdicating their roles if they feel alienated by the Bill's provisions and the establishment of the new council. It is right that doctors must pay for the council via registration fees, but we should not remove the sense of ownership as we democratise the system. For these reasons I tabled the amendment.

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