Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

That is the great dilemma in our free health care system. When the health and social care professionals council has been established, medical scientists will have to deal with this issue in terms of general practice. Why is the wide variety of cost to families and consumers who use the GP service acceptable? I ask the Irish Medical Organisation to take up this issue. It is not acceptable for a wide variety of charges to be imposed by GPs who are providing services to a community. It is an important point.

The problems caused by a cowboy element who offer a way out to those who are trying to cope with difficult diseases have regularly been raised by Senators on the Order of Business. The cowboys to whom I refer offer miracle cures to those suffering from cancer and other diseases for which there is no hope. I hope the council will come down heavy on those offering such miracle cures because they cause people facing a terminal illness misery and suffering.