Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Senator Ó Murchú on the need to have the remains of Thomas Ceannt moved to a more fitting location. It is a matter that should be attended to within a short timeframe.

On the cost of professional indemnity insurance for medical practitioners, the announcement in the past few days that in some cases the cost of this insurance has increased by 60% underlines the call I made previously on the need for a restructuring of how we deal with medical negligence in this country. The system in relation to personal injuries resulting from industrial accidents has been changed. The system for dealing with car accidents was also changed more than ten years ago. At that time, it was suggested that the manner in which claims of medical negligence are handled should also be changed. However, no change has occurred. It is time we had a debate on this issue.

The reason for the dramatic increase in this insurance, in particular as it applies to people in private practise in private hospitals, is not so much that the level of compensation paid out has increased and, in some cases, by more than 40%, but because of the increase in the number of claims. It is time we had a debate on the direction in which we are going long term in relation to this issue. If this cost continues to rise, many of the people now providing service in a private capacity will leave this country. This is something we cannot afford to happen. Enough of our medical people have already left the country. Let us ensure this issue does not go unchecked. We need to have a debate in this House on how the manner in which we manage medical negligence claims can be changed.