Inquiry Officer
Section 38 of the Disability Act 2005
The Inquiry Officer, Niamh Dunne responds to concerns raised under Section 38 of the Disability Act 2005 about the Medical Council’s possible failure to comply with sections 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29 of the Disability Act 2005.
To help the Inquiry Officer respond to your complaint, it must be in writing and sent by email liaison@mcirl.ie or send by post to
The Inquiry Officer,
Medical Council,
Kingram House
Kingram Place,
Dublin 2 D02 XY88
You or a person acting on your behalf, with your consent, can make a complaint.
For guidance, there is a checklist below of information which will help the Inquiry Officer investigate and respond to your complaint.
Making a complaint under the Disability Act 2005
You should state that you wish to make a complaint under Section 38 of the Disability Act 2005.
Your complaint should include the following information:
- Your name, address, contact telephone number and e-mail address.
- Whether you were looking for:
• Access to information.
• Access to a service.
• Access to a public building or public place.
Some information you may wish to include:
• Whether you were seeking access for yourself or on behalf of someone else?
• What Medical Council Department were you dealing with?
• Who did you meet engage with? What date or dates was this?
• What were you looking for? Please provide details.
• How and why was the service or information or building not accessible to you or the person you are complaining on behalf of?
• Why are you dissatisfied with the response or commitments made.
What happens after you make a complaint?
When the Inquiry Officer receives your complaint, they will:
- acknowledge your written complaint within 5 working days.
- examine the complaint to establish if it relates to a possible failure by The Medical Council to comply with Sections 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29 of the Disability Act 2005.
- start their investigation unless the Inquiry Officer believes that the complaint is frivolous or vexatious.
- proceed to Investigate the matter raised and report back within 21 days.
- The Inquiry Officer's report will set out their findings and will contain their determination if there has or has not been a failure by The Medical Council to comply with the relevant provision of the Disability Act.
- In the event that the Inquiry Officer finds there has been such a failure, the report will state what steps are required to correct the situation and for The Medical Council to be in compliance.
Right of appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman
If you are not satisfied with The Medical Councils response to your complaint, you may wish to refer the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Office of the Ombudsman,
18 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2.