Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 48: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she intends to bring forward the promised medical practitioners Bill in view of the decision of the Medical Council to proceed with competence assurance measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8562/06]

Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the new medical practitioners Bill is not being prioritised when 28 doctors have been struck off the registrar for conduct described by the Medical Council as amounting to moral turpitude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8369/06]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 83: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the Government will take the issue of patient safety seriously in view of the recent Medical Council report which shows that doctors were struck off the council register for sexually assaulting patients and supplying control drugs for sale and sexual favours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8353/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 54 and 83 together.

I want to assure the Deputy that the publication of a new medical practitioners Bill is regarded as a priority task in my Department for the current year. Officials are currently considering a number of policy issues, and appropriate consultations are taking place with the Medical Council. Once those policy issues are settled, Parliamentary Counsel will be asked to complete the drafting of the Bill, with a view to its publication later this year.

It is intended that the medical practitioners Bill will provide a statutory basis for an appropriate scheme of competence assurance for medical practitioners, which will be co-ordinated and administered by the Medical Council. In that context, voluntary participation by medical practitioners in structured audits as announced by the Medical Council is a welcome development.