asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of medical referees employed by his Department and the number of those who have even minimum medical qualifications.
Written Answers. - Department of Social Welfare Medical Referees.
248.
The authorised medical staff of my Department is one medical adviser, one deputy medical adviser and 18 medical referees. All posts are filled at present.
In accordance with the regulations under which medical referees are appointed to my Department, all referees:
(1) are medical practitioners registered or entitled to be registered in the General Register of Medical Practitioners,
(2) have held, for at least six months, a post on the resident medical staff of a general hospital, and
(3) have had at least six years' satisfactory experience in the practice of the medical profession since registration.