Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this important legislation. I congratulate the Minister and Deputy Reilly on discussing the issue to which it relates earlier today and I hope they will be able to reach an accommodation so that we might move matters forward.

Insurance, particularly as it relates to private medical practices and clinics, is extremely important. I am not aware of too many difficulties arising in the context of ordinary private practitioners. However, I have come across quite a few in respect of hospital and other settings. In recent days, I met a young person whose aunt encountered serious difficulties in the HSE system. If one is a certain age, even in the HSE system, one can experience problems in the context of obtaining support and assistance. I have not read the entire file I was presented with by the young person. However, I am aware that it contains documentation to the effect that the hospital involved apologised and admitted that a difficulty had arisen.

Regardless of whether one is dealing with private practitioners or the public health service, patients and their families are not really interested in insurance or money. Rather, they are concerned with regard to the availability of support services in the aftermath of the relevant procedure or whatever. The woman whose case was brought to my attention is no longer able to walk properly. Ten months after her first operation, she is not properly healed. If she wants to go shopping or whatever, she is obliged to rely on her niece or some other relative to provide transport. She requested a mobile or electric wheelchair but was informed, in no uncertain terms, that it cannot be provided. The woman lives in an old person's dwelling, which is very suitable because it has been adapted to meet her needs. However, she cannot go shopping or whatever without asking one of her relatives to travel a long distance to assist her. The individual in question is not interested in insurance but she would appreciate some assistance.

I am aware of quite a number of problems that have arisen in respect of private medical practices. Everyone is aware that some doctors come here from abroad - in some instances to fly in for the day - to do short-term work. The Bill seeks to ensure that such individuals are properly insured and that there will be a follow-up system in place. If a doctor from abroad carries out a procedure here and then returns when a difficulty arises and states that he or she has no money, the patient involved is left in an extremely weak position.

I commend the Bill, which is in the interests of both patients and doctors, to the House. As Deputy Reilly stated, it will guarantee that, for the first time, patients will be protected in that, in the event of a mistake or medical negligence, they will be in a position to claim financial compensation from doctors. Improved regulation provides better protection to patients, removing the possibility that doctors may not have appropriate insurance or any insurance cover at all.

This legislation is both straightforward and important. I welcome the fact that the Minister and Deputy Reilly may be able to reach an accommodation so that a system of mandatory indemnity might be brought into being as quickly as possible. Such a development would ensure that people can be guaranteed their rights.

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