James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to regulate eye clinics offering laser eye surgery; if her Department or the Health Information and Quality Authority have remit in inspecting such clinics to ensure they meet best practice and internationally safe standards; if not, if she will take steps to initiate and enable such regulation and inspection by HIQA or the relevant authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20644/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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At present there is no legislation in Ireland governing laser eye treatment. However, the involvement of medical practitioners in this practice is subject to the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act and the Medical Council's guidelines.

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. The Act will be commenced on a phased basis over the coming months. When commenced, 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. The Commission is due to report by July this year.