Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 20:

In page 31, line 30, to delete "or the Fitness to Practise Committee" and substitute the following:

", the Fitness to Practise Committee or the Midwives Committee".

Both of these amendments were ruled out of order on the basis that they did not arise out of committee proceedings and I am now asking the support of the House and the Ceann Comhairle to briefly allow their recommittal so we can address them. I assure the House that it will not take much time.

Section 24(15) of the Bill states: "The acts of a committee (except the Preliminary Proceedings Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee) shall be subject to confirmation by the Board unless the Board dispenses with the necessity for such confirmation." Section 24(17) states: "The Board may dissolve a committee other than the Preliminary Proceedings Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee." Amendments Nos. 20 and 21 can be judged separately; they are not grouped. I seek to include the midwives committee in the wording in each section. Subsection (15) would then state: "The acts of a committee (except the Preliminary Proceedings Committee, the Fitness to Practise Committee or the Midwives Committee) shall be subject to confirmation by the Board unless the Board dispenses with the necessity for such confirmation." Subsection (17) would further state: "The Board may dissolve a committee other than the Preliminary Proceedings Committee, the Fitness to Practise Committee or the Midwives Committee."

It is important for the work of the midwives committee that it enjoys the assurance that its work and integrity are respected by the board at all times. It should be the case that the board should not be able to dissolve the committee, just as the preliminary proceedings committee and the fitness to practise committee are enshrined. That should also apply in subsection (15) to acts of the committee being subject to confirmation by the board. That is surely not at variance with the Minister of State's already stated position in arguing for amendment No. 7. I would like to see the midwives committee included there and in subsection (17) to protect the committee's position. I urge the acceptance of amendments Nos. 20 and 21.

See this speech in context