Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It is in line with what is required of other public bodies. The Minister of the day may receive a strategy statement within six months of taking office. The statement must deal with the performance of the functions of the regulatory body, in this case, the Medical Council. The statement may contain information on the number of inquiries. The norm will be for such inquiries to be held in public and there will be more information available. It is in the public interest to know how many complaints were received, how many were filtered by the preliminary hearings committee, how many were health issues and how many went to mediation. These are required in a strategy statement. Members of the Houses are constantly asking me such questions. At present we receive broad information from the Medical Council. This is a good practice and is nothing more than exists in other legislation. The Prospectus and Brennan reports drew attention to the need for greater clarity and better information. For accountability and effectiveness it is a good for organisations to have strategy statements. Departments publish them and they are the subject of public debate. This focuses the minds of those who operate in such organisations, such as Ministers and public officials.

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