asked the Minister for Health if he will make a full statement on the position of doctors who are citizens of an EEC member State being permitted to practise in this country, following the recent decision of the Council of Ministers on this question; and its implications for the medical profession and the general public in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Movement of Doctors.
13.
Part of the provisions of the Treaty of Rome relating to the abolition of restrictions on the freedom of nationals of member states to provide services in the territory of the other member states is concerned with the mutual recognition of qualifications and diplomas in the profession. The European Economic Community have for some time been considering a directive which would have the effect of mutual recognition as between the member states of qualifications of medical practitioners. These directives have reached the stage where they were approved in principle by the Council of Ministers at a meeting in February. They are now being put into final legal form and it is expected that they will be formally executed before the end of June. This will mean that they will have effect from the end of 1976.
Under these directives each member state will be required to give recognition to qualifications recognised in the other member states and to allow doctors so qualified to practise. Accordingly, nationals of the other member states of the Community qualified in their own countries will be entitled to practise in Ireland. They will, of course, in relation to the public service be subject to the same restrictions, including competitive entry, as apply to doctors qualified in Ireland.
In practice, this directive would relate mainly to doctors qualified in the United Kingdom. These have, of course, the right to become registered in the Irish Register under our existing mutual arrangements and the directives in relation to them will have little practical effect. It is not expected that, in relation to the other member states of the EEC, the directives will have any great practical implications for this country, mainly because of language difficulties.
The medical schools and the medical profession as a whole have been kept fully informed of developments on these directives and I think that I can say that they are quite happy with the position that is emerging.
The Minister indicated that the profession and the schools have been kept informed. Does this mean that there have been consultations?
Yes.