asked the Minister for Education whether, in view of references in Article 57 of the Treaty of Rome to progressive recognition of diplomas, qualifications, etc., among European countries, his Department have carried out any investigation of the standards of various educational and professional diplomas and qualifications in European countries with a view to discovering whether corresponding Irish diplomas and qualifications are of a similar standard; and whether Ireland is a signatory to Article I of the European agreement for the equivalence of diplomas required by university establishments signed in December, 1953.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Standards of European and Irish Qualifications.
140.
Ireland is a signatory to the European convention for the equivalence of diplomas leading to university studies. Article I, Sections 1 and 4, of that Convention, however, provides that in countries where the universities are autonomous, the Convention is not binding.
My Department, in conjunction with the other European Ministries of Education, has, through the Cultural Committee of the Council of Europe, carried out investigation in this matter, but I may say that the ideal enshrined in the Convention has not, so far as I am aware, yet been attained to any great extent anywhere.