Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 7

Written Answers. - Language Tests for Doctors.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

45 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by the Medical Council to introduce language tests for non-EU doctors; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the Irish Medical Organisation has described such tests as racist; his views on whether the imposition of such tests is discriminatory; the proposals, if any, he has to introduce measures outlawing the imposition of such tests in a discriminatory fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4764/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): It is a matter for the Medical Council to satisfy itself as to the suitability for the practice of medicine of non-EU doctors seeking registration.

The council does not at present operate a language test as part of this procedure. The council's United Kingdom counterpart, the General Medical Council, has had a language ability test in place for some years.

Good communications between the doctor and the patient are fundamental to the doctor-patient relationship. The Medical Council's Guide to Ethical Conduct and Behaviour and to Fitness to Practice indicates that good communication is an ethical obligation for all doctors.

I understand that the Medical Council is now giving serious consideration to the need for a language test in certain cases.