Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

The Minister of State obviously outlined fairly detailed circumstances regarding the concerns about other professions. To agree with Senator Henry and others, no representatives of the other professions referred to in the Bill have made contact with me but the professionals involved in chiropody certainly have done so. They have made a fairly genuine case, particularly regarding the transition from one educational qualification to the other and the difficulty that will arise at a later stage because of the two different standards. Perhaps an exception could be made for chiropodists in light of the fact they represent the only discipline that contacted us on this matter.

The Minister of State said there was no request from the professional body to change from "chiropodist" to "podiatrist". They have made such a request and the representation made to me was certainly not about changing from "chiropodist" to "podiatrist" but about dual recognition. Perhaps there is some confusion over the representation made to the Department. I ask the Minister of State to consider acknowledging the case being made. Perhaps he cannot do so today because it would require further discussions but he might indicate to us that he is prepared to discuss the matter with the professional organisation in advance of the legislation being considered in the Dáil. I would like to see progress in this matter because it is of considerable concern.