For the purposes of the EU Directive on the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications, the Minister for Health and Children is the designated authority for validating the qualifications of persons seeking employment as radiographers in Ireland. The assessment to establish the equivalence of overseas qualifications with the required national standard is undertaken by the Irish Institute of Radiography. The person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for validation of their qualifications to my Department in October 2000. Following examination by the Irish Institute of Radiography, their qualification was assessed as falling below the required standard and the person was, therefore, deemed ineligible to practice as a radiographer in the Irish health system and was notified to that effect by the Department of Health and Children in June 2001.