Joe O'Toole (Independent)

This is an important issue on a number of levels. Senator Henry outlined the change in the title which is the view of the profession and on which we should reflect. In some cases, even the unions do not include the title "chiropodist". Given that the Good Friday Agreement requires us to have parallel legislation North and South, we need to ensure that legislation in the South reflects the situation in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland the term "chiropodist" is almost gone. In addition, the amendments in the name of Senator Henry are of an international nature.

On Second Stage I spoke of the importance of mutual recognition of third level qualifications and professional qualifications throughout Europe, which is an EU directive of almost 20 years standing and on which we have made little progress. Part of the reason we have not made progress is that what we are doing in legislation is putting us backwards. There are many instances where this has happened and we are about to do it again. If we do not cover this we make it difficult to get international recognition of qualifications. That is useful in two ways. First, because we do not have enough medical schools for people at various stages of therapy or branches of medicine. This means that people are being drawn in from other jurisdictions who will travel to and from this country.

Second, a compelling case has been made for having both terms covered because, ultimately, we are concerned here with a qualification. The qualification is clear and the work the people are doing is clear. One has only to listen to any of the daily phone-in chat shows where every month there will be an argument about somebody who has put themselves forward. The reason behind the legislation is to stop people putting themselves forward as something they are not and to ensure that members of the public are clear about those with whom they do business and that they are properly qualified in the area in which they are to involve themselves medically. There is no argument against this. I appeal to the Minister of State to accept the amendment and to view it as a progressive and positive step forward.