Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Therefore, there are three structures in place. If that were the case, I would like to hear the Minister say so. I also would like that the persons who were nominated by the Minister might necessarily be ones from without the RIAI. I have no difficulty with the RIAI being the registration body per se, but I am uneasy that its members are the only architects involved in everything. If we assume, as the legislation does, that there are other architects who are not members of the RIAI, I ask that they be given a say in it somewhere along the way. For me, the only issue is that the Minister would so provide. I am sure the Minister, like me, would feel uneasy about passing legislation which put decent, hard-working, professional, responsible, successful people out of work by not being able to use the term architect.

I fully agree with the protection of the term "architect", just as I agree that legislation will be brought forward shortly to protect the term "accountant" and with the way in which we have protected the term "veterinary surgeons" here recently. These are important consumer protection measures. My only difference with the Minister is that I want to see recognition given in some form to those architects who are not members of the RIAI. I would trust the processes the Minister is putting in place. They are good and sound. If there was a way the Minister could provide for the other architects, then that would be a comfort to me.