Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the regulations and legislative protection surrounding the business of complementary therapists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15437/05]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the plans she has to regulate those offering alternative health therapies, many of whom have no formal qualifications, especially in view of the serious concerns expressed at a recent inquest into the death of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who had been attending such a practitioner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15334/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 153: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress she has made in regulating the situation whereby any person can practice as a therapist, alternative practitioner or so-called complementary practitioner without any statutory requirement to register; if, further to previous parliamentary questions, she has taken further steps to rectify the situation; the position regarding the working group of the registration of alternative practitioners which was mooted by a forum set up in 2001; her views on whether this process is taking far too long in view of public health and safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10607/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 116 and 153 together.

At present there is no statutory regulatory framework for complementary therapists. The provision of all services to the public is currently subject to the supervision of the Director of Consumer Affairs and must conform to the requirements of consumer legislation.

A national working group was established by my predecessor in May 2003 to advise on future measures for strengthening the regulatory environment for complementary therapists. This group has met 18 times and was expected to report by the end of this year. However, in response to a recent request from my Department, the chair of the working group has given a commitment to an earlier completion date. My approach to the most appropriate framework to be put in place to regulate the activities of complementary therapists will be informed by the group's recommendations.

The whole issue of the regulation of complementary therapists is especially important in light of the increasing number of people who are attending such practitioners, particularly in partnership with conventional medical care. As a result, the often informal nature of how some complementary therapies are practised needs more scrutiny. Greater controls in the complementary therapy area are in the interest of all reputable practising therapists as the presence of some unscrupulous practitioners undermines the sector and presents risks to those using the therapies. It is the personal responsibility of every individual practitioner providing health care services to the public to ensure that they are trained and qualified to the level required to work safely within their area of competence.

It is my firm intention to introduce appropriate measures to strengthen the regulatory environment for complementary therapists as soon as I receive the report of the national working group.

In the meantime, I have asked the health promotion unit of my Department to explore the possibility, in consultation with relevant experts, of running a public information campaign aimed at providing guidance to persons contemplating the use of complementary therapy services. A key message that needs to be communicated is that patients with undiagnosed conditions should be actively encouraged to seek medical advice in the first instance.