Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

There should be a statutory registration for all people who consider themselves either acupuncturists, general practitioners or physiotherapists. Every GP must register with the Medical Council. If one does not do so, one cannot prescribe in this country. GPs pay more than €5,000 per year for insurance purposes in case they make a mistake. The alternative practitioner to whom Deputy Cowley referred does not have to pay anything. She does not have to pay a registration fee or indemnity insurance. This is not a nice situation in which to leave patients when so many use alternative practitioners. There should be regulations covering that. We would find that cowboys would disappear quickly if they had to have insurance and had to register.

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