Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she proposes to introduce restrictions over the practices of private cosmetic surgery clinics here and particularly the way cosmetic surgery procedures are advertised. [13425/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Medical Practitioners Act 1978, the Medical Council is charged with responsibility for the registration of medical practitioners and the regulation of their activities. The Medical Practitioners Act 2007 provides for a clear compulsory requirement for registration of all medical practitioners, changes to the Fitness to Practise process and the introduction of a mandatory scheme for the maintenance of professional competence. Provision is also made for the Medical Council to have a function in relation to advertising by registered medical practitioners. These and other new provisions of the Act will afford greater protection to the public.

In January 2007, the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance was established to develop proposals for a health service wide system of governance based on corporate accountability for the quality and safety of all health services. One of its terms of reference is to specifically examine and make recommendations in relation to a statutory system of licensing for public and private health care providers and services. I understand that the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons made a submission to the Commission. The Commission is due to report by July this year.