Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 14:

In page 24, line 12, after "Council," to insert "and".

I want to press, in particular in amendment No. 16, that the council shall, in preparing a business plan, "have regard to the policies and objectives of the Minister and the Government as they relate to the functions of the Council". If we are getting rid of self-regulation and introducing a lay majority we should at least give the council some independence, one way or another. Removing its independence in the manner the Minister has done has neutered the Medical Council to a significant degree. The Medical Council has a role to play. It is akin to the question I have previously asked about what was so wrong with the 1978 legislation and the Medical Council as it is constituted that such a heavy-handed approach as regards ministerial responsibility is required. Why can it not remain independent?

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