John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 377: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the Chiropractic Association of Ireland has not yet been included within the framework of the Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004; if there are plans to include it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25171/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The 12 professions selected for inclusion in the Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004 were chosen because they are long established providers of health and social care within the public health service and, in most instances, also have experience of self-regulation. In addition, the qualifications of the majority of these professions are already currently regulated within the public health service. Section 4 of the Bill provides for the inclusion by regulation of additional professions in the proposed system of statutory registration. This section also sets out the criteria the Minister shall have regard to in considering the designation of further professions under the legislation. The Deputy will appreciate that the future inclusion of any profession must be dependent upon its meeting this criteria. I favour the programme and orderly inclusion of additional health and social care professionals in this new statutory framework and I will consider the case with respect to chiropractors in that light.