Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Swanick, O'Reilly and Colm Burke for their contributions and unanimity on the importance of what is a technical Bill that we need to pass as quickly as possible through both Houses of the Oireachtas in order that CORU can place its attention, effort and resources where we all want them to be. We do not wish to cause delay to people who are perfectly well qualified to provide services here and whose qualifications have been recognised but who, under the existing Act, would again have to go through an individual assessment process. I thank the Senators for their support in that regard.

I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising several important issues and for his support regarding the need to regulate counsellors and psychotherapists. This is a big area. As I stated in my opening remarks, other jurisdictions have tried and failed to implement such regulation. I am determined that we will succeed and get this right. In the course of discussions of women's healthcare I have been horrified by some of the advice which I was told had been given to women, often pregnant women or women in crisis, by people who call themselves counsellors or psychotherapists. If one examines the qualifications or lack thereof of such individuals, one would not want them to treat one's loved ones. It is very important to regulate in this area out of respect for the qualifications of the many brilliant and qualified people who work in it and in order to control the rogue elements which often enter it.

On CORU, its busyness and the potential for delays, I thank Senator O'Reilly for highlighting this important issue which he encountered through interaction with people in his constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. Applications for recognition of non-Irish health and social care professional qualifications are assessed in accordance with the European directive which I outlined. It provides for a detailed assessment on a case-by-case basis of an applicant's formal training and post-qualification professional experience and how those compare with the qualifications required to practise here. The competent authority must issue a decision to an applicant within four months of the submission of a complete application. Of course, the Senator is correct that due to the improved economic climate and the fact that we are increasing the number of professional registers, far more people are now applying for recognition. In fact, the volume of applicants seeking registration has more than doubled since 2015.

The Senator is entirely correct that more people are coming to Ireland, want to work here and want their qualifications to be recognised. In response, CORU has allocated additional resources, including additional staff, to ensure that the four-month timeline stipulated in the directive is met. Although CORU endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible, its overarching objective, as the Senator will agree, must be to ensure patient safety and that the required criteria are applied rigorously. I have some good news in that regard because I have been advised by CORU that an online application system which will greatly assist applicants and CORU in terms of processing applications will be operational in the coming months and should lead to an improvement in the situation. Documentation accompanying an application is often incomplete, which adds to the back and forth between the applicant and CORU. Ensuring that complete applications are submitted and then dealt with in a chronological and fair order is how CORU must proceed. I will keep a very close eye on its resourcing and staffing but the new online application system will be of assistance to applicants and CORU and I hope it will result in an improvement in some of the issues highlighted by Senator O'Reilly.

The Senator also asked me to consider the issue of delegation. While I understand his point, the situation is quite complex in the context of the 2005 Act, under which it is clear that the board makes the decision. However, I will consider the broader point he raises.

The whole-of-government point made by the Senator in regard to returning emigrants is very important. The Government has discussed the issue on several occasions. Thankfully, we are back in an era of net immigration into our country. All Members want the return of Irish people who had to leave the country because they could not get a job or did not see a future here. Thankfully, as we approach full employment, people are coming back to our country. The Minister of State with responsibility for diaspora affairs, Deputy Cannon, is very eager to ensure their return is as smooth as possible and I will pass on the Senator's comments in that regard to him. It is an issue in which the Taoiseach has taken a personal interest.

I will write to Senator Colm Burke regarding the issue of physical therapists and the correspondence I received from the Joint Committee on Health in that regard. I will pass on his important remarks regarding scanning to the HSE and, in particular, the national women and infants health programme. It is important that a full range of services and supports are provided along with the results of a scan. It is sometimes traumatic and very difficult for people to receive certain scan results.

I commend the Bill to the House.