17 November 2004
Dr. Henry: Is it possible to separate the amendments dealing with podiatry from those dealing with physiotherapy? This is the basis of Senator Ryan’s objection. The amendments relate to two different professions and it would be preferable to take them separately as the arguments are not the same on both. I propose we group amendments Nos. 1, 6 and 28 on podiatry.
Amendment No. 24 is composed of two amendments, which I submitted separately and thought would be taken that way. One part of the amendment relates to physiotherapy and the other to podiatry. Can they be separated?
Mr. Ryan: We should take amendment No. 24 separately.
Dr. Henry: Yes. Can we do that?
An Cathaoirleach: Is it agreed to take amendments Nos. 1, 6 and 28 together? Agreed.
Dr. Henry: I move amendment No. 1:
In page 9, subsection (1)(a), line 3, to delete “chiropodist” and substitute “podiatrist”.
“Podiatrist” is better recognised internationally as the nomenclature for a person who deals with diseases of the foot. While “chiropody” has been in common parlance here, it would be better to use the more internationally recognised term. I did not have the good fortune to learn Greek at school, but I gather that “podiatrist” means physician of the foot whereas the practice of chiropody includes the hand and the foot. While it has been suggested that one could include a reference to “podiatrist-chiropodist” in the Bill, I was reluctant to suggest this usage as I have not seen it used in legislation previously. I do not know what the Parliamentary Counsel would think of that.
We can solve the issue of those who call themselves chiropodists in my amendment No. 24 which, inter alia, states: “In this Act, the titles Podiatrist and Chiropodist are synonymous and both titles use are restricted exclusively to those professionals who are registered as Podiatrists.” The qualification for a person to be on the professional register is bachelor of science in podiatry. We have many problems with this in Ireland as we do not have any school of podiatry that awards a bachelor of science degree and it is difficult to know when one will be set up. That is why some of my later amendments on podiatry have to be taken into account. Given that we want to proceed with the legislation, it would be advisable to ensure that the terminology used is accepted internationally and that chiropodists are included by stating that the title is synonymous if they have the relevant degree.
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Dr. Henry: The grandparenting section is very useful. It would be covered by the second part of amendment No. 24 which states, “In this Act, the titles Podiatrist and Chiropodist are synonymous and both titles use are restricted exclusively to those professionals who are registered as Podiatrists.” If all of those people who have been in practice for a long time come forward and are considered to be suitably qualified and trained, they will of course be in a position to be registered.
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Dr. Henry: I do not know which registration board with which the word “podiatry” would be at odds. Senator O’Toole stated the importance of making sure that international registrations are similar. The degree people are required to have to be registered by a board is a BSc in podiatry. Senator Maurice Hayes explained the circumstances in Queen’s University in this regard. Obviously, the profession has contacted many Senators saying that it would like “chiropody” changed to “podiatry”. If we do not make the change we are just bringing things backwards, as Senator O’Toole explained.
How many Members of this House have been contacted by, members of the profession to say they would like the terminology changed? I discussed with the Clerk the possibility of including “podiatry-chiropody”. It is up to the parliamentary draftspersons to decide what they would do with this. I am totally unconvinced by the Minister of State’s argument. It is extraordinary that members of the profession of all the various councils have been asking for this change.
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Dr. Henry: Like Senator O’Toole, I am amazed to hear that the profession has been in contact with the Department urging it to keep the name “chiropodist”. I have received information from them throughout the years because, as president of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland, I have been involved with the profession. The Minister of State will be aware that foot care is important. This business about podiatry has come up in the past. All of us on these benches must take some note of university degrees — after all a BSc in podiatry is the qualification.
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Dr. Henry: I am becoming more and more alarmed. The Minister of State stated that 12 boards are being set up. Is he signifying that we might set up a podiatrists’ board as well?
Mr. T. O’Malley: I did not signal that.
Dr. Henry: It is suggested that the wording regarding “podiatrist” could be left until later. I would hate to see the profession divided up into chiropody and podiatry.
Mr. T. O’Malley: What I said is that none of the four professional bodies has been in contact with the Department of Health and Children and that we will now contact them as well as acting upon the suggestion of Senator Maurice Hayes regarding the situation in Northern Ireland. We will then be better briefed to come back to the issue.
Dr. Henry: I agree with the suggestion that we postpone this until Report Stage while the officials telephone people in Northern Ireland and all sorts of exciting things happen.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
An Cathaoirleach: We now come to amendment No. 2 in the name of Senator Brendan Ryan. Is it agreed to take amendments Nos. 2, 3, 23 and 24 together?
Mr. Ryan: I understood we had decided to take amendment No. 24 on its own, but it is a matter for Senator Henry.
Dr. Henry: We had decided to take amendment No. 24 on its own. Amendment No. 24 includes physical therapists and physiotherapists, and podiatrists and chiropodists, and I thought we had agreed to omit physiotherapists for the moment.
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