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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Oct 1972

Vol. 263 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Doctors.

36.

asked the Minister for Health the supervision exercised by his Department in respect of the employment in this country of doctors qualified overseas.

The registration of overseas medical practitioners is a matter for the Medical Registration Council, in accordance with the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Acts, 1927 to 1961. The Department of Health do not exercise any supervision over the employment of foreign medical practitioners, as this is primarily a matter for the Medical Registration Council and the employing authority concerned. Overseas practitioners employed in hospitals are, of course, subject to the supervision of the relevant employing authority.

Is it intended in this session to introduce amendments to the Medical Practitioners Act?

It is under consideration. There are a number of matters which have still to be decided. A Bill will be introduced in relation to registration.

Will it be introduced in this session?

Not in this session.

37.

asked the Minister for Health the system of medical registration open in this country to overseas doctors; and if he considers the matter requires examination.

The registration of overseas doctors is governed by the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Acts, 1927 to 1961. Broadly speaking the situation as regards doctors who qualify outside this country is as follows:

(1) Medical practitioners registered in the British Medical Register— other than those registered as foreign or Commonwealth practitioners—are entitled, on application to the Irish Medical Registration Council and on payment of the prescribed fee, to be registered in the Irish register.

(2) Medical practitioners registered in countries or states with which the Government have entered into an agreement for mutual recognition of registration between the two countries are also entitled to registration.

(3) The Medical Registration Council may grant temporary registration to suitably-qualified persons where they are satisfied that the applicant is, or intends to be, in this country temporarily for the purposes of employment in a hospital or other approved institution.

(4) The council may also temporarily register, in a register of visiting post-graduate medical students, suitably-qualified foreign practitioners for the purpose of obtaining a post-graduate medical qualification in this country, but only until this post-graduate qualification has been obtained and for no other purpose.

Anyone, whether Irish or not, who obtains a recognised medical qualification in this country is, of course, fully entitled to registration here.

Certain amendments of the Medical Practitioners Acts are being considered at present, including a provision that would give the Medical Registration Council power to register fully suitably-qualified and experienced individual doctors from foreign countries, subject to certain conditions.

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