Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

They will not be able to practise as specialists because that will be a designated title. They can practise as doctors but not as specialists. There are two issues involved. First, there is an EU-wide dimension for standards and patient information. Many people are going to doctors who are not medical practitioners such as in alternative medicine. Second, there is an issue with the licensing and the accreditation of facilities and the people who work in them. This is an area in need of major reform because it is a major gap in our regulation of health facilities.