Call for action against fraudulent treatments

Seanad Report: The council being established under legislation to regulate a range of health and social care professionals, …

Seanad Report: The council being established under legislation to regulate a range of health and social care professionals, should be enabled to initiate complaints against individuals who promoted fraudulent treatments, Dr Mary Henry, (Ind) said.

A great deal of money was taken by unscrupulous people from unfortunate members of the public who had serious illnesses. But there seemed to be no mechanism whereby the proposed council could do something about matters which were publicly well known.

"You have to get a complainant to come forward, and of course, people are very reluctant to come forward sometimes to denounce someone they have trusted, or because they feel very foolish." Dr Henry urged that consideration be given to empowering the council to initiate complaints of this nature.

Opening the second stage debate on the Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Ms Harney, said that the proposed system of statutory registration for 12 professions would ensure professional conduct, and the maintenance of high standards of professional education and training among those professionals.

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It was estimated that 140,000 health and social care professionals would be subject to regulation.The professions covered initially include chiropodists, dieticians, occupational therapists, psychologists, radiographers, social care workers, social workers, speech and language therapists and orthoptists.

The 25 member council would include 12 members of the registered professions.

Referring to the legal action taken by two lesbians seeking to be treated as a married couple for tax purposes, the leader of the House, Mrs Mary O'Rourke said that the High Court had given a serious judgment on their application. There was a long road ahead of the two women. "I think it marks a step forward on the matter."

Mr David Norris (Ind) asked that the House note the useful High Court judgement in the case taken by two courageous Irish women.

The court had found that this was a serious matter that remained to be determined.

He said Mrs O'Rourke had made the excellent suggestion that an all-party committee of the Seanad look at this aspect of human relationships in a calm and rational manner.

A Government member suggested that the Director of Consumer Affairs could take a court case similar to one that had led to a benefit of some €20 billion for millions of Italians.

Mr Brendan Kenneally (FF) called for a debate on the outcome of a case which the Italian director of consumer affairs had taken against the banks in that country. He said that the director had claimed that the banks were treating their customers inequitably by applying only a yearly interest on deposits, but quarterly interest on overdrafts and loans.

"The court decided that this was inequitable and it is estimated that 10 million Italians will benefit to the tune of between €20 billion and €30 billion as a result."