Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I too welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. It is described as technical but it goes further than that.

I acknowledge the presence of the new Minister of State in the Department of Health, Deputy Alex White. This is his second time in the hot seat although it is my first time to be in the House in his presence. We were colleagues very briefly; I was a member of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform for only two weeks when he became Minister of State. While he will be a great loss to the committee, I am certain he will be a great servant to the Department of Health and the people.

I am sure the Minister of State is aware that the subject matter of this Bill has been the subject of significant public debate recently. An hour or two ago, members of the Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin parties were happy to raise the issue of primary care facilities in their areas when members of the media were present. However, now that we are actually debating the professional qualifications and regulations of many of the people who will work in primary care units, there is nobody present from those parties. At least their false anger is consistent and we know what they are about.

Primary care teams and primary care units were mentioned in the manifestos of the Fine Gael and Labour parties and now comprise an important part of the programme for Government. The regulation of staff in primary care teams is vital bearing in mind the people they serve and treat.

On a day when the Government has announced it is seeking further reductions that will affect staff in public services, it is necessary to point out the great work being done in the health service, particularly by health care professionals. The reductions will be targeted and there will be no reduction in front line service provision.

Let me focus on the professional qualifications directive. Over the past 18 months, the Government has tried to improve the ability of people in Ireland to move abroad to work within the European Union. While Ireland has high unemployment at present, as everyone will know, there are large parts of Europe suffering from a shortage of professionally qualified staff. Even in Ireland, there are areas in which we still require professionally qualified staff. This is an important aspect of the legislation.

Some 800 professions are identified throughout the European Union. The directive sets out the rules for mutual recognition of qualifications between member states. This is of benefit to our professionals when going abroad and to our citizens, who can be assured that those staff who come from other countries, particularly those within the European Union, are qualified satisfactorily.

Qualification requirements differ from country to country. A person fully qualified to carry out his profession in one country might not be considered fully qualified in another. The directive of 2005 is a key for professionals to overcome problems resulting from these differences. It enables professionals to take advantage fully of the Single Market when finding a job and developing their career or extending their business.

We are now focusing on primary care and putting the patient at the centre in this regard. It may allow for more self-employed staff in the health service. That will certainly allow people to have greater flexibility in their workplaces, but it may also give rise to a more efficient health service, particularly at primary care level, which is the level closest to the people on the ground.

There are 12 areas listed in the legislation and there is provision to allow for the addition of other professionals. However, the legislation does not state whether other professions can be added.

Deputy Dan Neville stated he has for many years focused on health services, particularly the mental health service. He referred to many Ministers and Ministers of State of successive Governments with whom he has dealt. I know of nobody in this House with greater expertise in the area of mental health than the Deputy. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, to avail of an opportunity to read the suggestions of Deputy Dan Neville, and that the ministerial summary identify whether some of these suggestions can be taken on board in this Bill or another.

See this speech in context