Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I referred to road traffic offences but these are not included in the list outlined in section 57. There are, however, other offences such as technical breaches of the Planning Acts or the Companies Acts. An offence could, therefore, be committed in circumstances that have nothing to do with the practice of medicine and the matter would have to go before the Medical Council if a complaint was made. The council would then be obliged to waste time making a decision on a frivolous complaint and the practitioner to whom it related would be left swinging in the wind. Due to the fact that provision is made in the legislation, the person bringing the complaint would be in a position to justify his or her actions.

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