Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. The original Opticians Act, which this Bill is amending, dates from 1956. It seems it has been 48 years since this area has been visited. In researching this Bill, I found that the then Minister was Mr. O'Higgins of the coalition Government and that prior work was done in the previous Government by Dr. Ryan.

The main thrust of that Act was to bring order and regulation to the whole area of optical treatment. It revolved around the competing groups of diagnostic ophthalmic opticians, dispensing opticians and the medical profession. There seemed to be many problems at the time with very unqualified people making great claims about their optical products and their own abilities in the whole area. It was unregulated and, for somebody like myself who wears glasses, even dangerous to the visual and financial health of people. After the initial problem of how to deal with people involved in aspects of the business for some considerable length of time in a reputable way, eventually we arrived at the regulatory position we have today.

The 1956 Act led the way for this country and indeed was copied in similar legislation in the UK. The success of the 1956 Act can be seen in the fact that we have not needed to revisit the issue until now. The Act formed the basis for the continued development of the profession for their good and that of the public at large. We now have a tightly controlled area with the Irish Optical Association playing a key role. There are some changes necessary after such a substantial timespan and that is understandable.

The association to which I refer is now the Association of Optometrists, Ireland. According to a dictionary, optometrist means sight tester, which is quite relevant. This is in response to the world trend towards the use of this more definitive title for the profession formerly known as optician.

The early educational base was weak but it progressed, with the 1956 Act and since, into a four-year full-time diploma course in ophthalmic optics and it is now getting degree status. This is in line with other qualifications such as in nursing.

I welcome the proposed amendments to the 1956 Act which are in line with the development of closer links with other countries, especially the EU, with monetary changes and with the updating of penalties and the recognition of optical aids such as contact lenses which were not available in 1956.