Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for bringing this Bill through its final Stages. As I said earlier, this matter first came to light in 2008 and 2009 in respect of cosmetic surgery. There was a concern that procedures were being carried out and the medical services here had to pick up the pieces.There were people performing procedures who did not have adequate insurance. Senator James Reilly, when Fine Gael health spokesperson, brought forward a Bill to deal with this area in 2009 and the then Minister, Mary Harney, said she would deal with it in early 2010. It was not dealt with, however. I brought forward my own Bill in 2012, having consulted with the Medical Council and Ciarán Breen in the State Claims Agency. Representatives of the Medical Protection Society, MPS, came in from London to meet up with me and those of us working on the Bill because it was concerned there were several medical practitioners who did not have insurance.

My Bill was debated in the Seanad but it was parked because the Department was dealing with it. The big question was how one judged the level of insurance. The Medical Council would not have the expertise to set out the criteria in that regard. In fairness to Ciarán Breen in the State Claims Agency, he came on board giving help and advice on the insurance issue.

With the Department, the Medical Council and the State Claims Agency working together, we have moved forward with this legislation. I cannot drive a car unless I have insurance. Neither could I practise as a solicitor without insurance. However, there are medical practitioners who are practising without insurance. That situation will prevail until this Bill is signed into law. While 99% of medical practitioners have insurance, some do not. In Cork city, for example, I came across a radiologist providing services but who did not have insurance.

I welcome this long-overdue Bill. I thank the Department’s officials for their help and assistance in 2012. I also thank the State Claims Agency, the MPS and the Medical Council for the assistance they gave. I am delighted the first Private Members’ Bill I introduced, although it is in a different format, will at least be law within the next week.