Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Is pribhléid dom bheith anseo chun an Bhille seo a chur os comhair an Tí.

The Bill I am bringing before the Seanad today seeks to modernise the Opticians Act 1956, as there have been no substantive amendments to that Act since its provisions came into force in 1959. During our deliberations, one of my Department officials remarked that this Bill has been awaited for 30 years. There is now a pressing need to bring the legislation up to date with the modern practise of optometry, while advancing the interests of the consumer and ensuring that effective precautions are taken to safeguard the health of the public. I hope it will, therefore, receive the full support of the House.

It is important to remind ourselves of the background to the regulation of the practice of optometry in Ireland. The primary purpose of the 1956 Act was to protect the public by a number of mechanisms. Those qualified to practise or those who, on the introduction of the Bill, were deemed to be experienced enough to practise now had to be registered. There was a commitment to fostering a continual improvement in the education and training of entrants to the professions. A set of rules was devised under the Act to control the activities of registered opticians and sanctions were put in place which would enable the Opticians Board to discipline those persons who breached the provisions of the Act, or the rules of the board as approved by the Minister for Health.