Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I also welcome the Bill. It is important that a system of statutory registration for health and social professionals is put in place.

I am happy the emphasis of the Bill is on protecting the public. I received an e-mail from the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists which stated it has concerns regarding adequate protection of the public under the terms of the Bill. I hope the Minister of State can allay these fears.

Some months ago, a survey was carried out of people who had used the health service. Up to 92% were very happy with services at the hospital where they had been patients. An even higher figure of 94% expressed satisfaction with the GP service. That is a good starting point and places in context any criticism I make with regard to people's worries about health services.

Senator Cummins raised the issue of so-called alternative medicines. Some people have preyed on the fears of those with serious illnesses. People have touted a cure for cancer, when there was no basis for their claims. This has been made evident thanks to the media and, in particular, the Joe Duffy show which highlighted the practice. I am glad steps are being taken to ensure people do not prey on the sensitive nature of this illness, when people and their families are at a delicate stage.

It is amazing there are so many so-called cures for arthritis and back injury, from drinks to acupuncture to operations. The national treatment purchase fund has been successful in allowing people to travel outside their own area for operations, in some cases to Northern Ireland or Great Britain. However, much damage has been done to those who have perhaps undergone the wrong type of treatment for back injury.

I wish to say a few words about the 12 health and social care professions dealt with in the Bill. I look forward to the day when we have similar legislation for medical practitioners and nurses, which I understand will follow. There have been some concerns expressed about the situation of the professions listed. I am glad that whether one is in the public or private sector one is covered under the designation. I am also glad the Bill has, on the whole, been welcomed. It has given an assurance to the public that there will be some accountability in the area. That is stressed in the first page of the Minister's speech. The issue of registration being legally necessary is also dealt with as it is no longer good enough to have voluntary registration. We now want a mechanism for prosecuting offenders, which is very much part of the Bill.

Under the new legislation it will be an offence for an unregistered practitioner to use a protected title or to falsely represent himself or herself as a registered practitioner. That too is very welcome because we have had indications that such misrepresentation was taking place in the health system.

The main emphasis of the Bill is on protecting the public. That emphasis comes from the Minister and the Department, as well as from the professionals, and it is welcome. I hope the Bill can be passed quickly and that the necessary registration will take place. There are other health issues which I am not allowed to discuss today. The opportunity may arise when the legislation dealing with medical practitioners and nurses is introduced. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I fully support the Bill.