Public Consultation S11 Rules Registration

MEDICAL COUNCIL (RECOGNITION AND REGISTRATION) RULES 2020 PUBLIC CONSULTATION

The Medical Practitioners Act 2007 (the Act), which governs the registration of doctors, has been amended by the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020. A key amendment contained in this Act is the removal of the requirement to have the equivalence of a certificate of experience for registration in the Trainee Specialist Division (TSD). This means that doctors who are registered in the General Division or establish eligibility for registration in the General Division, will be eligible for registration in the Trainee Specialist Division.

The Medical Council (Recognition and Registration) Rules 2020 address the changes introduced by the amending Bill and incorporate other section 11 rules currently pertaining to registration.

When published, the rules will define the manner in which medical practitioners can establish their eligibility to be registered to practise medicine in Ireland.

The Council is now undertaking a public consultation on the rules which will guide the administrative arrangements to support the legislative changes.

The draft rules are available to view here.

Providing Feedback
If wishing to provide feedback please use the Feedback Form.

Send your feedback on the attached form to section11consultation@mcirl.ie. Submissions on the draft rules should reach the Council by noon, Tuesday 8th December 2020.

The Medical Council will consider any submissions or comments received within the specified timeframe in respect of the draft Rules. The Medical Council may:
a) Make the Rule in the form of the draft as published or with such changes as the Council determines, or
b) Decide not to make the Rule.

In the event that the Medical Council proceeds to make Rules pursuant to section 11 of the Act, the Medical Council will arrange for the Rules to be published and submitted to the Minister for laying before the Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with the requirements of section 11 of the Act.

Background information:

The Medical Council regulates medical doctors in the Republic of Ireland. The Council's purpose is to protect the public by promoting and better ensuring high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among doctors. The Medical Council is governed by the Medical Practitioners Act 2007.

The Medical Council's key responsibilities include:

• Maintaining the "Register of Medical Practitioners", check if your doctor is registered to legally work in Ireland.
• Ensuring the highest standards of medical training and education in the Republic of Ireland.
• Promoting good medical practice and overseeing doctors' continuing professional development. Learn more about Medical Council approved training.
• Investigating complaints against medical doctors.

Like most organisations, the Medical Council has policies and procedures in place to carry out its important regulatory functions. Section 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act also allows the Council to develop rules for the purposes of the better operation of any provision of the Act, or at the request of the Minister and in accordance with the request, shall make rules for the purposes of the better operation of any provision of the Act.

As part of this section of the Act the Council must hold a public consultation on the introduction, amendment or deletion of rules.

This public consultation relates to the draft rules to allow the removal of the requirement to have the equivalence of a certificate of experience for registration in the Trainee Specialist Division (TSD). This means that doctors who are registered in the General Division, or establish eligibility for registration in the General Division, will be eligible for registration in the Trainee Specialist Division.

The Medical Council (Recognition and Registration) Rules 2020 address the changes introduced by the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 and incorporate other section 11 rules currently pertaining to registration.

When published, the rules will define the manner in which medical practitioners can establish their eligibility to be registered to practise medicine in Ireland.

The process in developing rules involves reviewing current processes and determining if the introduction of a new rule would be beneficial to for the purposes of the better operation of any provision of the Act. Once rules have been drafted, the Medical Council and any relevant committees are consulted with and then the Council approves the draft rules for public consultation. Following the public consultation, the rules are reviewed in light of the feedback submitted and may be amended. At that stage they are then brought back before the Medical Council for approval.

Every rule made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.