Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I thank the Minister of State and the officials. It is a pity that, in a variation of a trend that has developed here, many matters were not accepted on the basis of arguments which were not persuasive. I firmly and vigorously support what Senator Henry said about the Bologna process. It is, perhaps, the central guiding principle for future recognition of third level qualifications. If we were to set off in an opposite direction because the Department of Health and Children had not properly worked out how these proposals fit in to the structure of the process, it would be a terrible setback for Irish third level education in general, probably one we would have to re-visit later, at great cost.

While I understand from the Minister of State that his Bill was a product of consensus among the professions that are listed here, the fact that some of them cannot agree among themselves should not mean that we cannot regulate them, particularly where there is perceived public need to have standards in place. The Minister of State at this stage ought to vigorously inform a number of other professions, psychotherapy and counselling included, that if they cannot come up with an agreed position, we will provide them with one.