Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure whether I am opposing or agreeing with this. I find it odd. We had a discussion here about trying to get doctors as medical assessors and there was no comment last year about having nurses. The vast majority of nurses I know do not have the diagnostic capability and the groups representing GPs or consultants have been very reluctant to allow nurses the extra power to go beyond certain tasks, even though they are well capable of doing it. I am just concerned that we will end up creating a row between the two professional bodies. It is not very clear what exactly the role of the nurse will be. Most of the medical assessors are assessing documentation that is sent in to say whether a person qualifies or does not qualify for payments. I presume that is what it is if they are assessing for the Departments. That suggests they have diagnostic skill. If not, if it is just that a nurse will go through the documentation or be present when a person who is making a medical application presents to make sure they do not take ill, that is acceptable. Could the Minister of State elaborate on how he sees this working?