Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I am sure the Minister's doctor friends could explain that doctors might feel disconnected from the Medical Council as envisaged. Doctors had an affinity with the Medical Council. A doctor felt a complaint against him or her was being examined by his or her peers. This affinity could disappear if the council is appointed solely by the Minister. One way of maintaining its independence is having a proportion of the council elected by the medical profession, while maintaining the lay majority appointed by the Minister. Such a structure would be closer to a partnership rather than a structure being imposed on doctors.

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