Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When we were discussing the Bill previously in this House and in the Dáil, a number of points were made regarding the fact that an applicant would have to accept the medical practitioner nominated by the Minister to conduct a medical examination. I have reflected on those points and have amended the provision to allow for the establishment of a new panel of qualified medical practitioners from which the applicant can make his or her own choice. Concern was expressed that there was not enough flexibility in the original drafting, so I have agreed to the establishment of a qualified medical practitioner panel to give applicants more choice, as per amendment No. 34. The other two amendments in this grouping are consequential on that.