Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would be grateful for the assistance of the Leader in helping me to get clarification on a matter. This relates to the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. The Minister for Health has undergone a consultation process with a view to making a final decision about the proposal to prescribe the title of physical therapist as a variant of the specified title of physiotherapist after an appropriate lead-in time. This proposal has been recommended by the State regulator, the Physiotherapists Registration Board and it is also supported by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists, a professional body for physiotherapists and physical therapists in this country, which has more than 3,000 members. There is support for the protection of both the titles of "physiotherapist" and "physical therapist" within the same body. Organisations such as the Irish Medical Organisation, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and various universities all support the proposed change.

This is about maximising public protection and eliminating a widespread public confusion that exists around the term "physical therapist". The legislation in 2005 set out to protect the titles of 14 health professionals. The title "physiotherapist" will be protected but it is imperative that the second title of "physical therapist" would also gain protection because in the UK and internationally, the title of physical therapist is synonymous with physiotherapist and they are interchangeable but there are people in this country who have adopted the title of physical therapist having done short and part-time courses - good luck to them but it is causing considerable confusion because the public, sporting organisations or many other individuals and groups related to the health professions in the country are aware of the fact that the level of service provided by physiotherapists and physical therapists can be completely different. It would be great if we could get a decision from the Minister or clarification on what decision he has made.

Senator Healy Eames should not have to run the gauntlet for making the very simple point that there should be accountability when a public service-funded broadcaster is showing bias on a life and death issue. I remind colleagues in the Labour Party and elsewhere who get very exercised, for example, about the fact that religious ideas and values are communicated in State-funded schools, even though that happens with the will of those parents and even though other schools are also funded.