David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We welcome this Bill. For many people, it seems strange that such a system was not in place already, and people have been surprised to learn that it was not. I imagine the current status whereby medical professionals have no legal obligation to have adequate medical indemnity insurance seems strange to the vast majority of citizens. Under this Bill, medical practitioners must ensure they have suitable cover. The Medical Council will be in a position to sanction a medical practitioner engaging in medical practice without indemnity. I welcome the fact that there will be an exemption from indemnity for those who are not actively engaged in medical practice. This is a common-sense and necessary exception.

This is a short Bill and one that we certainly support. I am taking this opportunity, as previous Senators have done, to discuss briefly issues in the health service, given that the Minister is in the House. We have called for statements on health care. I hope that at some point in the coming weeks the Minister will be able to come to the House and take part in a more thorough debate. People have serious concerns about the Government's health policy at the moment. With the greatest of respect to the Minister's predecessor - he did some good work in the health service - he talked tough and promised a good deal. Senator Crown referred to his having had a vision and a plan and so on. He certainly seemed to have a vision, but the plan was not in place and we did not get the delivery. We were promised that the HSE would be abolished and that it would be replaced with a more accountable body, but that has not happened. We are unsure where universal health insurance has gone. That is something the Minister will have to work out. Then he will have to come back to all of us and spell out not only his vision but also his plan in terms of how he will make it a reality. Promises were made for free general practitioner care for those under six years of age. Where is that? When will that be up and running and when will people be able to avail of it?

Bizarrely, as we are discussing this issue, and for the first time in my lifetime in politics, I have seen GPs protesting outside Leinster House, and I believe they have a valid reason. Our health service is under serious pressure. I accept that the Minister is aware of this. He is conscious of it and, if we are to believe what we hear and see in the media - although I do not always believe it - he is making the case for more investment in health care and the need for a triple approach involving reform of the system, efficiencies and greater investment in the health service. That is certainly to be welcomed. There is a need for the Minister to come to the House again to have a more thorough debate. We are owed that much by the Minister.

The horrors of the Michael Neary and the symphysiotomy scandal highlight why it is important to have robust and transparent systems in place for those who are injured by medical practitioners and who seek redress. The House must also be able to ensure that the public can trust the medical profession. It is alarming that someone irresponsible could practise here without the appropriate medical negligence insurance and that in the event of negligence or unsatisfactory treatment a patient may have no redress or recourse to compensation. That is something I do not believe any of us can stand over. It seems now that it is something that will be finally addressed. I commend the Minister on his introduction of this Bill. I commend Senator Burke on his work in this area and on bringing forward a similar Bill in the past.

I agree with many of the statements Senator Crown made about the Minister in respect of his ability. Ability and vision are one thing, but the Minister needs a plan and to be able to spell out to us exactly how he will reform the health service in the coming 18 months. Major changes can be made. We hear all the time from the media and those within the political establishment that the health service or the health Ministry is a poisoned chalice. It is only a poisoned chalice if we do not reform it or if we make the wrong policy choices. Far better to deliver on a plan and a vision that improves the health service generally, reduces waiting times across the board and takes the pressure off front-line services to ensure that people are treated on the basis of equality rather than how much money they might have in their pockets. If the Minister were to reform the health service along those lines and end the two-tier health system, he would be seen as one of the greatest health Ministers of our generation. Anyway, that is up to the Minister, and he must decide how that will be delivered. I wish the Minister well in that work and I welcome the Bill.