Defence Forces Medical Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2018

Thursday, 1 February 2018

Questions (66)

Clare Daly

Question:

66. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the general medical qualifications held by each of the Defence Forces medical officers involved in malaria chemoprophylaxis. [4988/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

All Defence Forces Medical Officers must possess at a minimum the professional qualifications of Medical Bachelor (M.B.), Bachelor of Surgery (B.CH), Bachelor in the Art of Obstetrics (B.A.O) or equivalent.  They must hold current, full registration with the Medical Council of Ireland. By date of entry into the Defence Forces they must also have had three (3) years post graduate experience.

I am informed by the military authorities that all Defence Forces Medical Officers have a clinical commitment to patients, and as such could be involved in the preparation and examination of personnel for overseas deployment which may include malaria chemoprophylaxis.