98 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the guidelines, if any, his Department proposes to issue to hospitals on recruitment procedures; the legislation, if any, he proposes to amend the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978, to ensure that hospitals do not enter into contracts of employment with unregistered doctors; and if good practice requires that a hospital, prior to recruiting a new medical practitioner, obtain references from the doctor's previous employers to check the validity of any references received. [1930/99]
Written Answers. - Hospital Doctors.
Alan Shatter
Ceist:613 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the guidelines, if any, his Department proposes to issue to hospitals on recruitment procedures; the legislation, if any, he proposes to amend the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978, to ensure that hospitals do not enter into contracts of employment with unregistered doctors; and if good practice requires that a hospital, prior to recruiting a new medical practitioner, obtain references from the doctor's previous employers to check the validity of any references received. [1995/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 613 together.
I would like to reassure the Deputy that existing legislation already ensures that hospitals cannot enter into contracts of employment with unregistered doctors. Ireland has a very strict regulatory regime which ensures that only competent and properly qualified medical staff can work in the country. No doctor is allowed to practice medicine without being registered in Ireland by the Medical Council.
The council was established under the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978 and registers doctors who qualify from Irish medical schools. It also registers doctors who have been educated and trained in other jurisdictions before they can practice medicine in Ireland. The Medical Council has authority to register doctors from other EU member states who have rights to practice here under EU freedom of movement directives. I know that the council works closely with registration bodies in other jurisdictions, including the General Medical Council in the United Kingdom.