Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Minister for Health that the basic safety standards directive is a European directive which must be transposed into Irish law by 6 February. Overall responsibility for the directive rests with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment as it speaks to radiological protection. However, the Department of Health is transposing the medical provisions included in the directive. While ionising radiation has many beneficial applications, its use increases potential health hazards if poorly used or contained. The directive protects members of the public, patients, workers and others from all forms of radiation, including in medical settings.

The Department of Health will finalise the medical provisions of the directive in the coming weeks and existing legislation in this area will be revoked and replaced with the new regulations. The regulations will designate those who may refer for radiological tests and those who may carry them out and other functions. The existing regulations from 2002 do not designate chiropractors as referrers or practitioners. Chiropractors who refer individuals for medical exposures, carry out medical exposures or other related functions are not in compliance with the existing regulations. There was an anomaly in the previous regulations whereby no inspection or enforcement provisions were included. In the new regulations the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, will have the inspection and enforcement powers to enforce compliance and contravention of the new regulations will be an offence. The new regulations will designate those who may refer for radiological tests, those who may carry them out and other functions. It is proposed to designate nurses, doctors, dentists and radiographers as appropriate persons. The proposed designation of the relevant professionals is based on patient safety and public health considerations and follows on from the advice of the chief medical officer.

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