Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Henry on that point. It is difficult to find a balance in such cases because we are moving from a position where this process was surrounded by a cloak of secrecy to one where we are trying to introduce a degree of transparency. I know of cases where the complainant was devastated because he or she was not allowed in to hear the case that was made against him or her or that was put forward on behalf of the practitioner. Some sensitivity must apply in dealing with the parties concerned, the complainant and the practitioner because the practitioner is not found guilty of professional misconduct in all cases. Given the nature of these types of complaints, one must query in respect of the proceedings what is best in the public interest as against the curiosity or news value of the hearing of such proceedings in public. I have no doubt the Minister will work out what is best in the public interest and what is not.