Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill has been robustly debated and scrutinised in the other House. I know there were differences among those affected by the Bill, specifically physiotherapists and physical therapists, about some aspects of it and some of the amendments tabled on Committee Stage. We liaised with the representative bodies, the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and the Irish Association of Physical Therapists, and were made aware of certain difficulties presented by the Bill. On Committee Stage, my colleague, Deputy Louise O'Reilly, suggested that both bodies take a period over the summer to resolve the outstanding issues. Thankfully, the Minister for Health and those from all parties and none agreed to the Department of Health overseeing the mediation talks between physiotherapists and physical therapists, and today we have a Bill, as amended by the Dáil, which suits the needs of all parties involved. The Bill amends the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, which provides for the statutory regulation of the 14 professions currently designated under the Act. The main aim of the legislation before us today is to ensure greater patient care and tie all those professions under one registration body, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, known as CORU. Regulation is primarily by way of the statutory protection of professional titles by confining their use solely to persons granted registration under the principal Act. The new provisions are essential to ensure only those who are properly qualified and subject to statutory regulations will be allowed to practise the various disciplines outlined in the Bill. There is no doubt that we need this statutory protection and guidance in order to enable people to be confident that those from whom they receive treatment are fully competent and accountable within their professions.

Having been a registered member of An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann, also known as the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, I was always fully aware of my responsibility and accountability in safeguarding public safety and protecting my patients to the utmost of my ability. The measures put forward following the consultation with and between physiotherapists and physical therapists will protect the public interest without putting at risk the livelihoods and practices of either profession and the skills developed over years of diligent and professional effort. The legislation will finally see physiotherapy and physical therapy coming together under one title, thereby bringing Ireland into line with other countries around the world where the two titles are interchangeable.

I commend the diligent efforts of all involved in advancing these proposals, including the members of the Select Committee on Health, the departmental officials who mediated on these issues and the Minister, who facilitated the suggestion of a mediation process. I thank the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and the Irish Association of Physical Therapists for their ability and willingness to work together positively to agree changes and amendments that will address the problematic elements of the existing system. I support the legislation and echo Senator Freeman's sentiment in welcoming the future establishment of a registration board for counsellors and psychotherapists. Every person providing health and social care services to the public must be accountable and responsible in the conduct of their role.