Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I suppose the reason the IMO is concerned is that over a seven-year period there were more than 733 recorded assaults on medical practitioners, which is approximately 100 a year. That is extremely serious and it does not take into account the number of nursing staff and care assistants who have been assaulted in hospital services. The IMO is making sure that it is not just what is in the Bill, but that causing alarm, distress or harm would also be included.