Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for attending and for this important legislation. It is about ensuring we have enhanced scrutiny, transparency and public protection. All of us who have dealt with the health system understand the importance of what we are doing here in terms of patient safety, access to information and records, and sanctions. There is a balancing of rights that we have to get, which is a fair point by Senator Devine.It is about ensuring there will be recognition. This is very important legislation which is about ensuring there will be standards. It is about public safety and access to information. It is also about people being able to have confidence in the health system. If we look at the bodies about which we are talking such as the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the Dental Council and the Medical Council, we can see that they are important. If we are honest, many of us are contacted by health professionals who have issues with registration and other matters and the Medical Council. It is about publicising information. If a doctor has a conviction in a different country, I do not see anything wrong with making that information known as people have a right to information. Senator Devine has said we must take into account the need for privacy in the case of a minor misdemeanour or event. We must be careful because we cannot whitewash everybody, but it is about ensuring information will be provided as we are all for transparency. It is also about ensuring people will have confidence. Giving regulatory bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and the Medical Council a role in that regard is important. Equally, we should look again at the role and remit of the competency committee. I welcome the commitments given by the Minister, but there is a need for more regulation in dealing with certain issues. I will speak next week about cosmetic surgery. During the course of the autumn term Senator Lawless emailed some of us about Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland and the certification of its members in the context of being available for work. We can look at that issue on different Stages. The Bill is a good one which I am happy to support. I commend the Minister.