Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire ar ais go dtí an Seanad.

The purpose of the Bill is to ensure doctors have appropriate insurance in order that they might practise medicine. The vast majority of doctors are extremely responsible and have appropriate professional indemnity insurance. As is the case with all professions, however, some may not have an appropriate level of cover, either inadvertently or by choice. The Bill would make professional indemnity insurance cover compulsory for all practising doctors and bestow on the Medical Council the power to set the appropriate levels of insurance to be held by different classes of practitioner. The council currently has no such power and merely recommends that doctors have such insurance. The Bill also suggests that before it issues a certificate to practise to a practitioner, written evidence to the effect that the appropriate level of insurance is in place be produced to the council.

The Bill provides for circumstances in which insurance may lapse and would make it an offence to practise without insurance where such insurance is required. An irresponsible individual could practise in Ireland without having the appropriate professional indemnity insurance. In the event of negligence or unsatisfactory treatment, an aggrieved or injured patient may have no access to any form of compensation. The Bill is intended to apply to doctors who are not domiciled in Ireland but who often practise in private clinics here, as well as to practitioners normally resident in the country.

I acknowledge the many hours of hard work done by and the commitment of Senator Colm Burke in bringing the Bill before the House.