The President of the Medical Council, Dr John Hillery, has said the existing system for the regulation of doctors is 'archaic, dysfunctional and legally confrontational'.
Speaking at a Medical Council conference on competence assurance for doctors, Dr Hillery welcomed the Tánaiste's plans to produce new medical practitioners' legislation to replace the existing 30-year-old act.
However, he warned that a new regulatory system had to be careful not to make things worse.
Today's conference, taking place in Croke Park, comes in the wake of a report on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and the activities of obstetrician Dr Michael Neary.
Dr Hillery said the Irish medical profession is at a watershed following the Lourdes Inquiry.
The Medical Council is investigating a number of consultants following the publication of Judge Maureen Harding Clark's report.
