Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1523. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when the Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37063/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 18 September 2012
Ceisteanna (1523)
Freagraí scríofa
I wish to inform the Deputy that the Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment ) Bill 2012 was published on 7th August last. The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 to
(i) remove difficulties in relation to the effective operation of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, in particular to urgently provide for the Minister to continue to appoint professional representatives to the Council from the designated professions under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, whose term of office expired in March 2011, and
(ii) implement Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications in respect of the professions designated under the 2005 Act and provide a legal base for the assessment of qualifications which are outside the scope of the Directive.
These amendments are technical in nature and simply facilitate the more effective operation of the Act. It is hoped to have the Bill enacted during the current Dáil session.