Written answers

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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769. To ask the Minister for Health when the necessary statutory instrument will be put in place under the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 which will enable the Medical Council to address the outstanding issues relating to the inclusion of medical consultants many of whom are consultants for more than ten years to be included on the specialist register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50640/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 is a large and complex Act which was several years in development and was enacted in late 2020. 

This Act amends the five health professional regulatory Acts but makes the largest number of amendments to the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, with 65 of its 188 sections addressing amendments to that Act.  While the two primary areas of reform are registration and fitness to practice, there are significant cross linkages to other sections of the 2007 Act and significant work is required to ensure that these complex and important provisions can be safely commenced. Officials from my Department are continuing to progress this work and are engaging with the regulators to ensure that the necessary operational requirements are in place. I regret that I am unable, at this point, to indicate the timeframe for commencement of the sections required to give effect to the policy raised by the Deputy.

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