Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014

Amendment of section 58C of Act of 1970

6. To amend section 58C of the Act of 1970 by inserting the following new subsection:

“(13) Notwithstanding any other part of this section, the agreement, referred to in subsection (1) shall not:

(a) include any provision to restrict the criticism of the Health Service Executive, or the Department of Health;

(b) impose an obligation upon any general practitioner to limit criticism of the Health Service Executive, or the Department of Health;

(c) require any general practitioner to notify the Health Service Executive, or the Department of Health in advance of making a public statement;

(d) require any general practitioner to receive prior approval from the Health Service Executive, or the Department of Health, for any public statement they wish to make;

(e) require any general practitioner to dilute their natural rights to freedom of expression implicit in article 40.3.1º, of Bunreacht na hÉireann and explicit in article 10.1 in the European Convention on Human Rights.”.