Vol. 411 No. 6
123 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason public health is not included by the Medical Council when setting out practice requirements for non-nationals who apply for temporary or permanent registration here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Medical Council have the statutory power under the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978 to set criteria for full and temporary registration. In establishing these criteria, the Council have regard to the requirements imposed by the EC Directives which lay down the minimum standards of theoretical and practical instructions required for medical practice.
For full registration, the council, in line with the EC Directives, require a number of hours study of Community medicine. The actual amount of study of the subject is determined on an individual basis related to the area of medicine in which the applicant proposes to practice.
Similarly, in the case of applications for temporary registration, the council's assessment committee considers each application on its merits.
