Michael Creed
Question:99 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health whether it is intended to introduce a regulatory authority or regulations in relation to alternative medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Alternative Medicine Regulations.
The general position in regard to complementary medicine in Ireland is that it is not regulated by statute and there are no proposals, at present, to so regulate it.
Practitioners of alternative therapies are free to engage in practice provided they do not represent themselves as being registered practitioners. Those engaged in practice are, of course, subject to general common law provisions.
I am quite well aware that the representative bodies of practitioners of alternative medicine are concerned about the issues of control of standards and codes of practice in the area. I, as Minister for Health, have encouraged the various therapies to establish their own regulatory structures and to develop mechanisms to inform the general public about the availability of services from reputable therapists.