Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:“Amendment of section 4 of Principal Act

2. Section 4(1) of Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following after paragraph (l):

“(m) counsellors, that is to say, a person or organisation who engages in, and holds himself, herself or itself out as having experience or expertise to engage in, the activity of giving information, advice and counselling (including giving information, advice and counselling to pregnant women in relation to crisis pregnancies),

(n) psychotherapists, that is to say, a person or organisation who engages in, and holds himself, herself or itself out as having experience or expertise to engage in, the activity of giving information, advice, counselling, and psychotherapy (including giving information, advice and counselling to pregnant women in relation to crisis pregnancies).”.”.

I tabled this amendment because we feel that we did not get clarity on the legislation on Second Stage. Deputy Alan Kelly and the Labour Party brought forward a Bill to regulate rogue agencies. On the back of that, the Department of Health said that a public consultation would begin and all sorts of hoopla would happen. The information at the time, and in light of the excellent work done by Ellen Coyne and other journalists, all underlined a need for us to take swift and immediate action in this regard. The purpose of my amendment is to ensure that action is taken as part of this legislation. Perhaps the Minister can give us some comfort and assure us that we do not need to worry. Unless that is received I will press my amendment.