Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
797. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on legislation to amend the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 in order to end discrimination and obstacles against non-EU trained doctors in terms of training opportunities and career paths to becoming hospital consultants and general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25324/20]
View answerThe Medical Practitioners Act 2007 provides that medical practitioners who hold qualifications from non-EEA countries are registered in the Trainee Specialist Division of the Register if they have passed the Council’s Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES) or are exempt from the PRES in line with legislation, have an approved training post and have been granted in a third country a document which, in the opinion of the Council, is at least the equivalent of a certificate of experience (internship).
The Regulated Health Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019 includes an amendment to the Medical Practitioners Act to remove the requirement that an applicant seeking registration in the Trainee Specialist Division must hold a certificate of equivalence of experience. Doctors wishing to access specialist training will still be required to satisfy other requirements for registration on the Division, including knowledge of English or Irish, being a fit and proper person, holding an approved training post, and meeting any other rules which registration on this division subjects registrants to. The Bill was passed by the Dáil in December 2019 and passed Seanad Report Stage on September 18th 2020. It will now return to the Dáil for consideration of the amendments agreed in the Seanad. It is expected that this will take place in the near future.
