I will address the plight of clinical measurement physiologists, CMPs, who are highly skilled professionals working in cardiology, neurophysiology, respiratory and other diagnostic areas. They play a central role in patient care, yet remain chronically under-recognised. As far back as 2010, the McHugh report highlighted the need for updated workforce structures for professions such as CMP. More than a decade later, those issues remain largely unsolved and the profession continues to operate within frameworks that are badly out of date. CMP remains an unregulated profession. While proposals have repeatedly been made to bring CMP under the CORU framework, the Government has totally failed to actively embrace those proposals.

The result is that these highly specialised clinicians continue to work without statutory regulation or protected professional titles and without the assurance for patients regulation is meant to provide. Consequently, CMPs represented by Fórsa entered an industrial relations process earlier this year when a planned work-to-rule protest was suspended following intervention by the Workplace Relations Commission. However, engagement by the HSE has been lax, fragmented and lacking urgency, leaving serious concerns in the profession about whether the issues are being treated as seriously as they should be.

What is perhaps most extraordinary is the complete absence of modern workforce planning. The most recent meaningful workforce review affecting CMPs dates back to 1986. That is not a typo. It means this highly technical, safety critical profession is still being planned on the basis of assumptions made nearly 40 years ago, before much of today's diagnostic technology existed. After many years of service, CMPs still await proper recognition, regulation and workforce planning for their essential roles. I urge the Government to take action on this. Perhaps the Leader could raise the matter with the Minister for Health.