I propose to take Questions No. 648 and 651 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, CORU’s role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards.
The Medical Scientists Registration Board was established in 2016 and the register of medical scientists opened on 31 March 2019. The Medical Scientists Registration Board has statutory responsibility for setting the minimum standards for entry to the profession and is an independent decision-making authority in matters relating to professional registration of medical scientists within the context of the Health and Social care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended).
The CORU executive are examining all options available within the current legislation to establish pathways for increased recruitment of Medical Scientists, with due consideration to CORU’s public protection remit. Given the challenges and risks involved with amending regulatory legislation, along with the requirements of the EU's Proportionality Test Directive (transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 413/2022 - European Union (Regulated Professions Proportionality Assessment) Regulations 2022), this is deemed the best current course of action.
CORU has been working intensely to identify solutions within the context of the current legislation and the standards established by the Medical Scientists Registration Board. One pilot mechanism to streamline recognition is already underway while another mechanism focussed on recognition of third country qualifications is in development. However, it is acknowledged that legislative change may be required and this will become clearer in due course.
