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

The amendment proposes to bring forward the date from 2019 to 2018 and also to ensure the assessment of competence for applicants will be at the level of the physiotherapist qualification. It is important that all registrants have the same level of professional competence to ensure there is understanding of their role and function, not by them as professionals but by members of the general public. I am mindful of the helpful suggestion made by the Minister. I do not propose to press the amendments if they will be encompassed by the discussions that will take place in the intervening time but I reserve the right to table them on Report Stage.