Mary Henry (Independent)

I have a front page article from the 31 March 1999 edition of Medicine Weekly, an Irish medical newspaper, dealing with reform of the Medical Practitioners Act 1978, which has been promised since the early 1990s. I do not know what one could call its problems now but the article states that the Department of Health and Children had many problems in 1999 and that it would take five or six years to introduce new legislation. That time has passed and both the medical profession and general public have asked that legislation be brought forward with speed, as changes are needed in how the medical profession is regulated. There should be more lay involvement in the Medical Council. Does the Leader possess any influence over the Department to determine whether the proposed legislation could be introduced to this House? Members from all sides would be willing to begin work on this issue. It is urgent legislation but if "urgent" means five or six years, we will wait another five or six years if something is not said to the Department now.