Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 1

Written Answers. - Registration of Doctors.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

102 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable that in the regulations currently in force by the Medical Council, under section 27 (2) (d) of the Medical Practitioners Act, the council will not grant a permanent registration to doctors who have had temporary registration in the country for up to ten years and have practised in a specialty during that time, without re-sitting examinations already passed in reputable medical schools before coming to Ireland; the action, if any, he intends to take in respect of this matter; and if he intends to request the Medical Council to recognise such qualifications. [14693/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The Medical Council under the provisions of section 27 of the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978 has statutory responsibility for granting full registration in the General Register of Medical Practitioners if it is satisfied that the applicant meets the criteria for full registration.

The council has been given these responsibilities because it has the particular professional expertise required to carry out these functions.

I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to interfere or to try to interfere with the independence of the council in the carrying out of these functions.