It means X-ray apparatus, infra-red ray, ultra-violet ray. Am I to take it that people who use these apparatus have to have a licence? If a nursing home wants to buy an X-ray outfit they have to go to the Department of Health to get a licence. Is that the case? If they have to get a licence, we want to know what they will have to pay for it. Has a nurse who is carrying on the business of a masseuse and who has to have electric equipment for the after-treatment of fractures, etc., to get a licence? If she has, how much will she have to pay for the licence? Will the Minister give us information on these points? Perhaps it is a means of raising money. Perhaps it is for the purpose of preventing people getting these apparatus for some reason or other. I cannot fathom what is in the Minister's mind. In any case, it seemsto me entirely wrong that a nursing home, a public hospital or other institution or a private person that wants to get the simplest apparatus, provided it is an irradiating apparatus of any sort, should have to go to the Minister for a licence.
I make no apology for coming back to the point that in this Bill it is the old story of the State wanting to get control of everything. That is really what it boils down to. The freedom of the individual is gradually being taken away. I can see no reason for all this. If the Minister can give us a reasonable guarantee that the right of the individual will not be interfered with we will withdraw our opposition. It is only natural that we on this side of the House should be suspicious of this. Every Financial Resolution that comes along is for the purpose of prescribing a licence. That removes the freedom of the individual.
The Fine Gael Party are against that. If Deputy Dr. Browne, Deputy Cowan, Deputy ffrench-O'Carroll and the Fianna Fáil Party are for that, we are not. As long as we are sent here by the people we will oppose that sort of thing. We do not want to become units in this country. We want to retain our independence as free individuals. We do not want to have to turn to the State for everything. Private enterprise makes for the best in every individual and in every walk of life. That is the policy of Fine Gael. We stand four square behind that. If the Minister is prepared to delegate this to a responsible authority such as the Medical Research Council or an advisory body of scientists on the industrial side, we are prepared to withdraw our opposition.