Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I fully agree with the Deputy on that. For the record, the issue of those who are qualified but have not practised is a standard provision across all the professions regulated by CORU. Since there has been considerable focus understandably on the issue of physiotherapists, the view could be that it is particular to that profession. It is not; it is the same provision that applies to speech and language therapists and all other professions where somebody has qualified but not practised. The Deputy is entirely correct in that it needs to be extraordinarily stringent, and it will be.

On his second point, again, the Deputy was correct. The level at which the threshold is set for the competency test is a concern shared by both organisations, myself and members of all political parties and groupings here. I would make the point that there are people practising today in this country without having had to go through such a test. This legislation will mean that will no longer be the case. I am happy to talk to the Deputy about the threshold for that competency test.