Brendan Ryan (Labour)

In deference to the Chair, I will not respond to Senator O'Toole.

We have all had representations made to us regarding the confusion between the terms "physiotherapist" and "physical therapist". Listening to the language, it is easy to understand the confusion. Apparently, in terms of health insurance, if one goes to a physical therapist one may not get payment under one's health insurance but if one goes to a physiotherapist one does. There is considerable uncertainty. The request received by all of us in the House was that the term "physical therapist" be introduced as well.

Having heard the response to the last amendment, I could probably write the response of the Minister of State to this one because it will be identical except the words "physical therapist" will be substituted for "podiatrist". The same issues will be raised and we will hear about occupational therapy and other peripheral matters. I understand that all 60 Members of the Seanad received representations about only two terms, "podiatrist" and "physical therapist". This demolishes all the arguments about terminology because no other terminology is sought. In terms of the 12 designated professions, of all the bodies involved, there were quibbles about only two words. In both cases, reasonable suggestions for alternatives or extra wording were used. There is no open-ended request for a variety of vocabularies, therefore. After something of a pause, one of the disputed terms has been sensibly disposed of. I suggest to the Minister of State that there is a perfectly reasonable response with regard to the definition of "physical therapist" unless he has a compelling reason that this term is problematic.