Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There is an ophthalmologist on the board. However, I do not want to include in primary legislation a requirement that there should be a certain number of ophthalmologists on the board. The 1956 Act provides for 44 ophthalmologists, who are consultants, to serve on the board.

This Bill does not provide for specific representation of medical practitioners. However, the interim board currently includes two medical practitioners, one of whom is a GP and one of whom is a consultant ophthalmologist. My intention will be to continue to have an ophthalmologist on the board but I do not want to keep the current set-up, with four ophthalmologists effectively controlling another profession. The nursing board would not have seven doctors on it and the pharmacy board would not have three pharmacologists. The current position dates from the 1950s, when doctors and consultants controlled the professions then seen to be beneath them, which were opticians and optometrists. There has been much change since then. For the sake of common sense, good practice and public interest, it is my intention to continue to have an ophthalmologist on the board, although it should not be a requirement that there be a certain number of them.