Vol. 557 No. 6
15 Mr. English asked the Minister for Health and Children the action he is proposing to alter the European directive on the recognition of professional qualifications which would allow health practitioners to practice here without proof of registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22855/02]
170 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the action he is proposing to alter the European directive on the recognition of professional qualifications which would allow health practitioners to practice here without any proof of registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23082/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 170 together.
The Government welcomes the joint request to the European Commission from the European Parliament and European Council to consolidate and simplify the directives dealing with the recognition of professional qualifications in order to facilitate the freedom of movement of professionals within the Union. The European Commission launched its proposal for a consolidated directive in March of this year. As the proposal deals with the recognition of qualifications across a wide range of professions, the Department of Education and Science is the lead Department in these negotiations and the Government is represented by the Tánaiste at Council level regarding the matter.
Since the launch of the Commission's proposal, officials of my Department have been in close contact with the regulatory bodies in the health sector on this directive. My Department has raised a number of concerns regarding the proposal, both through the Department of Education and Science and directly with the Commission. The Deputies should be aware that other member states have expressed concerns similar to ours. My officials arranged a bilateral meeting with the Commission, at which the Medical Council was represented, to discuss concerns regarding the regulation of health professionals and the implications of the Commission's proposed directive on such regulation. My Department was also represented at the European Parliament's hearing on the proposal.
The main concern regarding the proposal is that the proposed directive does not make any reference to consumer protection. As the Deputies will be aware, the health and safety of patients and their protection in dealings with the health professions is the primary aim of the regulation of the health professions in Ireland. The Deputies may rest assured that, in co-operation with the Department of Education and Science and the office of the Tánaiste, I will continue to closely monitor progress with regard to the proposed directive and will continue to ensure that patient safety and quality of standards are given due consideration in the drafting of the directive.
