Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

I am pleased to have a brief opportunity to speak on this important Bill, which I welcome. It is a positive step. The reports of the Competition Authority and the National Competitiveness Council consistently refer to the need to open up what are termed the "sheltered professions". This includes the legal profession and the process is under way there at present. Restricted access to the pharmacist profession was mentioned previously and it has been removed somewhat. The dental profession was mentioned in terms of displaying and advertising prices. This has taken place. Now, the general practitioner profession, perceived to be a closed shop in many areas, is being opened up. The Minister has made a statement to that effect.

It is remarkable that the HSE was in a position to judge whether a practice was viable or whether it was in the wrong area or whether it should not have been in a given place. Now, if patients have a medical card or a GP card, they can go to the GP practice of their choice. This is a positive thing. Competition is about letting the market find its level. If one wishes to open up a sweet shop that is one's own business. One does it where one wishes and if one provides a good service and a price that attracts customers, one will do well. This is what we have in this Bill as well. However, certain standards and regulations will be required for the medical profession and we all accept as much. This is an important step in developing the primary care focus that the Minister is intent on attaining. It is a central plank of the Minister's policy.

Some GPs in the Cork area have come together to combine their practices. I have in mind one practice in particular in which nine GPs in the area have come together to provide a service. They brought their patients with them and a pharmacist has been attracted to the area as well. This is working well for the community and it allows the additional services such as physiotherapy, psychology, chiropody and so on to prosper. All of these services are attracted to the investment and the venture is providing a good service in the area.

It was stated that some GPs play golf on a Wednesday afternoon. Any of those GPs could run evening clinics from Monday to Friday and on Saturday morning. It is up to them how they spend their time and provide the service to their community. One would probably find that there are many options in the area where they work and it suits their clients to have a GP service available in the evening time and on Saturday mornings. For those working as GPs, income is based on the number of patients they see. Therefore, the harder one works, the more money one makes. However, we need competition in the area of fees.

Lists are produced annually of the amount of funding paid to individuals under the general medical services scheme. We should take a step back from these lists before examining them and one might find that one individual is named but there may be many doctors in the named practice. As usual there are always statistics and information but it depends on the aspect from which one wishes to examine them.

The most important thing about the Bill is that it sends out a message to young doctors or doctors who have gone abroad to the effect that there are opportunities for them if they have the energy and commitment to provide a service in the country. If one wishes to come here, there are opportunities and they can do it if they give it the time and the service. Individuals will always respond to service. Price may be the main element but service is an important part of it too. Consumers and patients respond well to it. This is an important signal and one of the more positive aspects of the EU-IMF agreement. The Competition Authority will be relieved that we have finally adopted one of the major policy recommendations it has sought for years.