Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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137. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the Medical Council and Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40771/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Medical Council is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of doctors in Ireland. The Council maintains the Register of Medical Practitioners - the Register of all doctors who are legally permitted to practise medicine in Ireland. The Medical Practitioners Act 2007 governs the Council's work in this regard, including requirements for registration. A doctor who has an approved specialist qualification in general practice is registered in the specialist division of the Register.

The purpose of the Council is to protect the public by promoting and better ensuring high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among registered medical practitioners.

The HSE has no role in relation to decisions made by the Medical Council regarding GPs' fitness to practice. However, if there are concerns regarding a medical practitioner's fitness to practice, a complaint can be made to the Preliminary Proceedings Committee of the Medical Council.

The HSE is responsible for the provision of GP services to medical card and GP visit card patients. Under the Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Act 2012, a registered medical practitioner:

(a) whose name is included in the Specialist Division of the register of medical practitioners established under section 43(2)(b) of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007; and

(b) who holds a current certificate of registration within the meaning of section 2 of that Act in respect of the medical specialty “General Practice” recognised under section 89(1) of that Act;

is eligible to apply to the HSE for a contract to provide services to medical card and GP visit card holders under the General Medical Services Scheme.