Since 1993, the Opticians Board has expressed concern over the lack of disciplinary powers to deal with allegations of professional misconduct or unfitness to practise against registered opticians. The existing legislation provides two categories of fines, reflecting the fact that certain offences under the Act are more serious than others. The amounts payable in the two categories are derisory by modern standards. For first offences, fines are £20 and £10 and, for second and subsequent offences, they are £100 and £50, respectively. It is proposed to provide for fines to range between €500 and €3,000, respectively. This will enable the board to apply reasonable discipline in an effort to ensure that those registered under the Act, as well as those commercial interests who may employ them, are obliged to behave in a manner which will contribute to the protection of the public by ensuring proper standards of practice and behaviour.