Mr. Derek Lacey:

A point was raised about regulation for audiologists in Ireland. The Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, ISHAA, has been actively working in Europe with the EU standard. We have adapted the EU standard here in the society. Our members adhere to that standard to the best of their abilities. As was rightly said, there is no regulation or legislation. Anybody can walk in here and sell Ms Brill A, B and C, claiming to be an audiologist or a scientist audiologist. There is no regulation for that. We are actively working with the Department in trying to get some sort of regulation and, hopefully, that will happen in the near future. The only Department that has been really significant in this is the Department of Social Protection through the PRSI scheme. Through that scheme we are able to monitor and ensure that good practice is adhered to at all times. That is the only bite that we have.