asked the Minister for Health whether he has approved of a standard in the final examination of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland which results in only 23 per cent. of the candidates passing the examination, and if this standard is approved by him, if he has satisfied himself that the standard of education provided by the Pharmaceutical Society in their four-year course is producing satisfactory results.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pharmaceutical Examinations.
asked the Minister for Health whether he has approved the regulation of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland whereunder an examination fee of eight guineas is charged for the first and each subsequent attempt by a candidate at the final examination.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
The subjects for the final examination of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, the percentage of marks which must be obtained by candidates in order to secure a pass and the fee charged for admission to the examination are fixed by regulations made by the society at various times since 1875 and these regulations secured the approval of the appropriate authority for the time being when they were made, such authority being successively the Lord Lieutenant and the Privy Council, the Minister for Justice and, since June, 1950, the Minister for Health. I have satisfied myself from the reports of the officer of my Department who attends the examinations that they were conducted fairly and without undue severity.
Neither the society nor myself is satisfied with a system which results in so high a percentage of failures, and I am at present examining proposals from the society for amendment of the regulations to revise the system of training and examinations.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that there is an urgent case for the revision of this Victorian charter?
The matter is under examination at present.