Public Consultation

In accordance with Section 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, the Medical Council has launched a public consultation on the draft Rules for the Fitness to Practise Committee and Subcommittees of the Fitness to Practise Committee (the "Rules").
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 john.sidebottom@mcirl.ie. Submissions on the draft rules should reach the Council by 24th July 2020.

The Medical Council will convene to consider any submissions or comments received within the specified time frame 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 for the Fitness to Practise Committee and Subcommittees of the Fitness to Practise Committee. These rules are derived from the procedures relating to the Fitness to Practise Committee and its Subcommittees.

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.