asked the Minister for Health if he will allow married female doctors who return to practice to become eligible for permanent appointment with full pension rights.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Married Female Doctors.
14.
As I stated recently in reply to a similar question, a change in the practice of excluding married women from permanent appointments in medical posts under local health authorities could involve a major policy decision, since the same practice in regard to the employment of married women is followed in appointments to every class of office throughout the local authority service. This practice will no doubt come under the scrutiny of the Commission on the Status of Women that the Government have just established.
Can the Minister say why it would involve a major policy decision just to sanction married women for permanent appointments?
Married women are employed temporarily in the health services. I cannot enter into a debate on this subject now. There are regulations in both the public and local services which clearly prohibit the employment of married women except in very exceptional cases, such as the teaching profession. I am not prepared to pre-empt what the Commission on the Status of Women that the Government have just established will recommend.
Surely the Minister has the power to make a regulation governing this matter? I cannot see how that involves a major policy decision. To say so is unadulterated rubbish.
The Deputy and the House will understand that I could not set a headline in respect of a matter which is not part of practice in respect of a particular claim unless there was evidence of such a grave shortage——
There is a shortage.
Not to such an extent that I would be justified in taking the action suggested by the Deputy.