David Norris (Independent)

There is quite a degree of consensus on the amendment and I hope this will be sufficient to persuade the relevant people to consider it. Apart from anything else, this is a question of qualifications. Like many other people, I have received e-mails in the last week or two offering me PhDs in various subjects if I send on my credit card number. One group has awarded me the American Medal of Honor, for which I must pay only €259. There is a financial interest in giving people spurious qualifications. It is important that we have some kind of quality control. Under what circumstances is it envisaged that somebody will be sent abroad for a report? Is it a real possibility? Is there a dearth of expertise in this country which can only be solved by using practitioners from another country? That is something we should consider. Has there previously been any such practice under analogous legislation? If there has been, I am not aware of it.