Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 2

Written Answers. - Alternative-Complementary Medicine.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

98 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation to regulate, control or otherwise interfere with the practice of Reiki; if his attention has been drawn to any plans at EU level to introduce these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2096/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The practice of Reiki falls under the area of alternative-complementary medicine. The position in relation to alternative-complementary medicine in Ireland is that it is not regulated by statute as practitioners of alternative-complementary medicine are not employed within the public health service.

With regard to the control of standards and codes of practice in this area, the Department's policy has been to encourage the various therapeutic groups to establish their own regulatory structure and to develop mechanisms to inform the public about the availability of services from reputable therapists. Many of the therapeutic groups have adopted this system of self-regulation.

It is recognised that it is desirable to afford some protection to the public who wish to use such therapies. the legal position of practitioners of complementary-alternative medicines is that their dealings with their clients are regulated by civil law.

The European Parliament has been considering the issue for some number of years. In May 1997 a resolution on the subject was passed by the Parliament calling on the European Commission to launch a process of recognising non-conventional medicines and to conduct a study of the safety and effectiveness of such medicines and practices. There are proposals before the European Commission to consider conducting a research study of this area. It is anticipated that, on completion, this research project will result in state regis tration of some type in each member state. It appears practical to await the proposals from the Commission, which will give guidance on how such therapies should be regulated.