Vol. 430 No. 2
279 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he intends to introduce legislation to provide for the registration of certain designated health and social services professions, as was promised by his predecessor in Dáil Éireann on 24 June 1992; and, if so, the purpose of this legislation and the benefits that will flow from it.
The question of establishing a system of statutory registration for the health/social service professions has been under consideration for some time. The groups concerned are physiotherapists, social workers, radiographers, chiropodists, care workers, speech therapists, occupation therapists, dieticians, environmental health officers and medical laboratory technicians.
However, great difficulties have been encountered in devising any scheme which would meet the requirements of the various professions and which would provide for a system of self-financing self-regulation. Since the professions insisted that each discipline's registration arrangements be independent, no crosssubsidisation of smaller groups by larger groups could be provided for.
Moreover, some of the largest professions remained undecided about their participation in any scheme of statutory registration.
In light of the difficulties which I have outlined, I am currently examining the practicality of dealing with this matter through legislation.
There are two methods whereby professional disciplines within the health service are recognised i.e. 1. the establishment, by statute, of a registration body as currently applies in the case of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and opticians; and/or 2. the formal approval of minimum levels of qualifications by the Minister for Health under Section 18 of the Health Act, 1970.
An important criterion for recognition is employment of the professional discipline concerned in the health services. Once that criterion is met, recognition is by declaration of minimum qualifications.
Existing controls and procedures within the public health services allow for the exercise of all appropriate mechanisms in the public interest.
Persons availing of private services should satisfy themselves that their practitioner is professionally qualified.
