asked the Minister for Health if, in conjunction with the Medical Council, he will ensure that full registration will be made available to a limited number of foreign doctors under the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978; if there are a number of naturalised qualified Irish doctors having completed their five years training here who currently have no income because of the current lack of full registration facilities; the proposals he has in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Registration of Doctors.
1.
As I have indicated recently in response to a question in this House in respect of the recognition of qualifications acquired by an EC national outside the Community, the recognition in Ireland of medical qualifications acquired in a third country is a matter for the Medical Council pursuant to the Medical practitioners Act, 1978. The Medical Council is an independent statutory body established under the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978, for the purposes of establishing and maintaining a general register of medical practitioners. Registration can only be granted by the Medical Council in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the council is obliged to ensure that only suitable qualified persons are registered.
The doctors to whom the Deputy refers probably obtained their primary qualification in a non-European Community country and obtained temporary registration with the Medical Council in accordance with the terms of section 29 of the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978. The purpose of granting temporary registration to foreign doctors, particularly those from Third World countries, is to enable them to gain experience in Irish hospitals which they can apply when they return to their own countries. Under the provisions of the Act, temporary registration may only be allowed for an aggregate of periods totalling five years. This period may not be extended.
I am aware that there are a number of doctors in this country whose temporary registration has expired. In accordance with the provisions of the Act to be eligible for full registration a person must (a) be a national of a member state of the European Community and have been awarded a qualification in medicine by a competent body or authority designated for that purpose by a member state, pursuant to any directive adopted by the Council of the European Communities or (b) satisfied the council that he has undergone such course of training and passed such examinations as are specified for the purposes of section 27(2)(d) of the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978.
The Deputy will be glad to hear that in accordance with the provisions of that Act, the Medical Council has now adopted rules establishing a procedure which allows for the registration of a national of any member state who holds qualifications conferred by a third country, subject to individual assessment and compliance with the rules laid down. Any doctor who is a naturalised Irish citizen who wishes to obtain full registration in accordance with the provisions of section 27(2)(d) should contact the Medical Council. I regret that I have no function in relation to the granting of registration to individual applicants.
Is the Minister aware that there are some 30 doctors who have married Irish women and become naturalised Irish citizens but are destitute because they have no income when the five years have been completed? When will they be allowed full registration under these new regulations laid down by the Medical Council?
These regulations have just been made by the Medical Council but the doctors should apply directly to the Medical Council now for such registration.