Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

These amendments relate to section 9, which deals with membership of the health and social care professionals council. The council will have a pivotal role in the system of statutory registration established under the Bill. Its object is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence among registrants of the dedicated professions.

The council will have responsibility for overseeing and co-ordinating the activities of the registration boards. It will also enforce standards of practice for registrants, including the code of professional conduct and ethics adopted by their registration board. Moreover, the council has responsibility for establishing committees of inquiry into complaints against registrants of the designated professions and making decisions relating to the imposition of disciplinary sanctions on registrants.

When providing membership arrangements for the council, it is therefore essential to strike a balance between professional expertise, knowledge of the health service and the public interest, to ensure the council is in the best position to carry out its responsibilities.

Amendment No. 7 provides for the inclusion of three people among the council membership who have such qualifications, interests and experience as in the opinion of the Minister will be of value to the council in performing its functions. This will ensure the council has a wide mix of members and a continued strong level of involvement by those representing the interests of the public. The number of members has not changed, nor has the overall balance of practitioners and lay members. Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 are technical amendments consequent to amendment No. 7.

Amendments Nos. 8 and 9 require the Minister to consult as appropriate in regard to council appointments. Amendment No. 14 provides that the chairperson of the council may be paid certain remuneration for performing the functions of his or her office as may be determined by the council with the approval of the Minister for Health and Children, with the consent of the Minister for Finance. This is an enabling provision in keeping with similar provisions in other legislation. Amendments Nos. 10 to 13, inclusive, are technical drafting amendments.