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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 7

Written Answers. - Foreign Medical Practitioners.

Robert Molloy

Question:

22 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, there are to introduce legislation to remove bureaucratic obstacles introduced by the Irish Medical Council to obstruct foreign practitioners from practising in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6530/97]

Limerick East): I assume the Deputy is referring to the requirements laid down in the Medical Council's rules in relation to full registration for the holders of medical qualifications from countries outside the European Union who are not otherwise entitled to full registration. As the Deputy will know, such doctors are firstly required to hold temporary registration with the Medical Council for a specified period. It should be understood that the category of temporary registration primarily exists to facilitate overseas doctors who wish to pursue postgraduate training in this country. The extent of temporary registration is limited by statute to a total of five years. There is no automatic entitlement to progress from temporary registration to full registration.

The Deputy will appreciate that one of the primary functions of the Medical Council is the protection of the public from, among other things, inadequately educated or poorly trained doctors. The council must exercise particular vigilance in granting full registration to overseas doctors who thereby acquire the same rights and status as the graduates of Irish medical schools. I am satisfied that this is a matter appropriate to the Medical Council within the existing statutory framework.

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