18 July 2006

For Immediate Release

Proposed New Medical Practitioners Bill

The Medical Council is there to ensure the quality of education of doctors and specialists, to register doctors and to enforce professional standards. It is difficult to see how people appointed by the Minister will be more competent than elected medical professionals in carrying out these roles.

If enacted, this Bill would give the Minister for Health extraordinary powers. The Minister would be able to dictate to the Medical Council how medicine should be practised in Ireland. Again, it is difficult to see how this is in the interests of competent medicine and the public good.

The National Council of the Association will consider the Heads of Bill at its next meeting and will prepare a detailed submission to the Minister pointing out the many deficiencies in the proposed legislation.

Ends

For further information

Dr David O’Keeffe

Vice President

086 8191301

Donal Duffy

Assistant Secretary General

086 8176901