04 April 2007
Question proposed: "That section 97 stand part of the Bill."
Dr. Henry: The Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board has done incredible work and has been a most useful and hardworking body. As a former member of the board, it is great to be able to praise it. I hope it will be left in situ until the new procedures to be put in place by the council are up and running. The Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board is the one body about which one never hears complaints. It even tackled the problem to which Senator Browne referred, namely, of people not giving sufficient notice, some years ago. Admittedly, it did not manage to get very far, but I recall it said 20 years ago that a situation in which people accepted jobs only to let the hospital down could not be tolerated. That was very forward looking.
Our specialist qualifications are regarded as among the best in the world. Irish qualifications need only be produced and one never hears of them being questioned. We should ensure those high standards are maintained and that is why I hope the present system remains in place until the conditions are ready for a smooth changeover.
Ms Harney: It will be kept in place. The inclusion of the Postgraduate Dental and Medical Board in this legislation came on foot of the recommendations of the Fotrell and Buttimer reports.
Question put and agreed to.
Sections 98 to 102, inclusive, agreed to.
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