Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have taken many notes on what Members have said. On behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, I thank Deputies for their contributions. I note that they broadly support the Bill. As the Minister indicated, its main purpose is to address the gaps identified in provisions for the appointment of professional members to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the registration boards to permit a registration board to apply conditions relating to training, education and experience to applicants for registration who have not yet practised their profession and to provide for further conditions for registration on the register of physical therapists in advance of making regulations to protect the title of "physical therapist".

I have noted the concerns of Deputies Mary Butler and Fiona O'Loughlin and the issues they raised, particularly regarding best practice and relevant issues surrounding who is and is not included. As Deputy Clare Daly said, people can think that after taking an Internet course they can put up a sign and claim they are professionals, but they are not. I will relay these points to the Minister who concluded his speech by saying he looked forward to Members making a contribution on this Stage and discussing amendments.

I cannot answer on some of the issues raised by Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, but I will identify them to the Minister. I agree with the Deputy on waiting lists, as an individual and a public representative. Many parents are obliged to seek proper speech and language therapy services in the private sector. There is an urgency and the Bill will help in that regard. However, we must recognise that many parents are in a desperate state in trying to get their children into services which are not available when they should be. Some of the issues raised by the Deputy can be revisited on Committee Stage.

I welcome Deputy Clare Daly's comment that she believes the Bill will go a considerable way, even though there are still some areas to be covered. These gaps can be covered by amendments on Committee Stage. I will also relay her comments on section 47 reports to the Minister. I listened to her description of an individual's experience in going to a therapist and being treated in the manner described. None of us was there, but there is no need for anyone to treat a person who is attending a service during a difficult time in such a way that the person comes out feeling, first, that they were not heard and, second, that they were not treated with respect, regardless of the service they were attending. I have also taken note of that aspect.

I again thank Deputies for their contributions. The Minister looks forward to a further constructive examination of the Bill on Committee Stage.

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