Mary Henry (Independent)

I do not know with which registration board with which the word "podiatry" would be at odds. Senator O'Toole stated the importance of making sure that international registrations are similar. The degree people are required to have to be registered by a board is a BSc in podiatry. Senator Maurice Hayes explained the circumstances in Queen's University in this regard. Obviously, the profession has contacted many Senators saying that it would like "chiropody" changed to "podiatry". If we do not make the change we are just bringing things backwards, as Senator O'Toole explained.

How many Members of this House have been contacted by members of the profession to say they would like the terminology changed? I discussed with the Clerk the possibility of including "podiatry-chiropody". It is up to the parliamentary draftspersons to decide what they would do with this. I am totally unconvinced by the Minister of State's argument. It is extraordinary that members of the profession of all the various councils have been asking for this change.