asked the Minister for Health the total number of medical doctors who qualified at Irish medical schools each year in the years 1960, 1970 and 1974; and the total number absorbed into employment in the Republic.
8.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Graduates.
7.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of medical graduates required each year to provide solely for the supply of this country's current and projected needs.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
The total output of graduates from the medical schools in the years 1960, 1970 and 1974 was:
1960, 270; 1970, 406; 1974, 440.
Information on the number of graduates of any particular year absorbed into employment here has not been compiled but it is thought that over the period concerned, an annual average of about 100 new doctors took up practice.
The number of medical graduates required to meet current needs is estimated to be in the region of 120 a year. By the end of the century, at the existing level of services, it is expected that this will have increased to about 170 in the light of the projected increase in the population.
9.
asked the Minister for Health if he will specify the countries to which Irish medical graduates have access and in which Irish medical degrees are recognised.
10.
asked the Minister for Health whether specific barriers, either totally or for limited periods, are imposed to Irish medical graduates in any country in the world.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
Irish medical degrees are recognised for full registration in the United Kingdom, and, under reciprocal arrangements, in South Africa, in New Zealand, in the Provinces of Saskatchewan, Canada, and in the Australian States of Southern Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Other countries may admit Irish graduates to their registers subject to compliance with registration and other requirements.
For example, doctors wishing to practise in the United States must pass a competency examination held by the authorities of the particular State concerned. Admittance to the register does not, however, of itself confer the right of establishment and, in all cases, statutory requirements, such as the need for work permits, in relation to employment of non-nationals must be fulfilled.
The EEC directives on mutual recognition of medical qualifications and right of establishment and freedom to provide services, recently adopted will, when put into effect, require member States to give recognition to qualifications acquired in the other member States of the Community by nationals of the member States, and to allow doctors so qualified to practise in any of the member States. Under these directives, Irish graduates will be entitled to practise in all other EEC member States, subject to the same conditions as apply to nationals of those States.
11.
asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the Government's policy on restrictions on foreign graduates working in the health services and hospitals in the Republic.
At present, foreign graduates from ex-British colonies and from commonwealth countries are required to obtain employment certificates from the Department of Justice. Other foreign graduates are required to obtain work permits from the Department of Labour.
Before issuing the certificates or permits, as the case may be, the Department concerned requires the prospective employer to produce evidence that he has endeavoured, without success, to recruit a suitable Irish national for the job.
As from the 1st August next under the Aliens (Amendment) Order, 1975, all aliens—which for the purpose of these Orders do not include persons born in Great Britain or Northern Ireland—may not enter the service of an employer here save in accordance with a permit issued to the employer by the Minister for Labour. Such persons at present lawfully engaged in employment here and who do not have a work permit will be allowed to retain their present employment without their employer having to seek a work permit. However, if such persons in future enter the service of another employer or change jobs with the same employer a work permit will be necessary.
Is that reply not contradictory to the previous one regarding doctors in EEC countries being free to practise here when the new proposals are implemented?
The information I gave in reply to Question No. 11 related to countries other than EEC countries. Within the EEC the qualifications for graduates are recognised mutually.