Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. We very much welcome the Bill coming to the House. It will streamline and modernise our health service and I commend him on taking those steps because they are long overdue. He outlined comprehensively the system of registration for social care workers, and the complaints investigation function of the Medical Council will be strengthened and enhanced by the Bill, which is important in this era of greater awareness and greater participation of patients in their own care.

The enabling of holders of UK medical degrees once again to take up intern positions is welcome. I am sure the Minister and all of us in this House have been contacted by people who have studied in the UK over the years and want to return to take up intern positions in Ireland. It is good that this will be once again facilitated and it will help our health service. I hope we will have cross-party support in the House for this very good work.