Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health Service Staff.

Conor Lenihan

Question:

315 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will initiate discussions with his British counterpart to ensure that doctors convicted of sex or sex related offences will have their names recorded on a register in order that they are deemed unfit to work in either jurisdiction. [27599/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

A relationship exists between the Irish Medical Council and their British counterparts in the General Medical Council which provides for the sharing of information in relation to doctors who have been removed from the register of medical practitioners or have had conditions attached to their retention on the register.

There is a high turnover of staff with foreign addresses in the health service, many of whom would have worked in the UK at some stage. The recruitment and selection of staff in the Irish public health services is a matter for each employing authority. The Department has laid down guidelines in relation to the employment of any grade of worker, particularly those professions which might have substantial access to children and vulnerable groups. Interpretation of whether this status applies to posts is a matter for prospective employers and in those circumstances there is provision for the utilisation of appropriate vetting procedures both in this State and the UK.