Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2004
263 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who is unable to work here due to the fact that the Irish Medical Council will not accept their medical certificate renewal from the Iraqi Medical Council due to the current political crisis in that country; and if this person will be allowed to continue their valuable paediatric work here. [15206/04]
View answerThe responsibility for the registration and regulation of the activities of medical practitioners lies with the Medical Council under the Medical Practitioners Act 1978. In the particular case referred to by the Deputy, I am informed by the Medical Council that the doctor concerned was last registered in Ireland in 1995. The council's rules require that where a doctor allows two years to elapse since his or her name was last entered in the register, the council may treat the case as if it were a new application for registration. The council also informs me that, although it had particular difficulty in verifying the certificate of good standing provided by the particular doctor concerned, following protracted inquiries, it has managed to do so.
No final decision has been made on the application in this case at this stage, as the references provided by the doctor were of uncertain origin. The council's registration committee intend to examine the case at its meeting on 9 June 2004. At that stage, a decision will be made as to whether or not a fresh application for temporary registration will be required. The Medical Council has informed me that it makes every effort to ensure that all applicants for registration are dealt with fairly. At the same time, however, the council must ensure the safety of patients by operating rigorous procedures for the granting of registration to any medical practitioner.
