As the Deputy will be aware, Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war have been granted temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive and this allows them to reside in the EU and enter the labour market.
Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/554 of 5 April 2022 addresses the recognition of qualifications for people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While encouraging Member States to exercise flexibility for these professionals, the Commission recognises the continuing obligation on Member States under the Professional Qualifications Directive (Directive 2005/36/EC) to assess qualifications obtained outside the EEA. Applicants who wish to enter regulated professions must first have their qualifications and experience assessed by the appropriate regulator to see if they meet the standards required to practise the profession safely in their new state of residence.
Officials in the Department of Health form part of a coordination group established by the EU Commission examining these issues. This group shares knowledge and best practice and is examining methods to streamline and expedite registration, including the use of electronic databases, the EU information centres for academic recognition and translation tools.
My officials are working closely with colleagues in the six health profession regulators to examine ways to support Ukrainian doctors, nurses and other health practitioners arriving in the State. The regulators fully recognise the importance of assisting health practitioners arriving from the Ukraine and to this end have been implementing measures such as internal working groups, dedicated webpages, the translation of documentation and engagement with the Ukrainian embassy and Ukrainian health practitioners, amongst other measures.
Recent figures indicate that the number of applications being processed across all six regulators are very low, only five full applications have been received, however, this number is in contrast to the large number of initial enquiries being received and formal applications are, therefore, considered to rise significantly over the coming months.
Listed below are the contact details for any enquiries from those fleeing the conflict and seeking to practice a regulated profession. It is advisable for individuals to email in the first instance, the regulators will make every effort to facilitate their applications in as practical a fashion as possible and in many cases translated documents can be provided to them where required.
- Medical Council: Ukraine@mcirl.ie, 01 4983100, medicalcouncil.ie/ukraine/
- Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU): Ukraine@coru.ie, 01 293 3160,
coru.ie/news/news-for-the-public/applicants-from-ukraine.html
- Dental Council: info@dentalcouncil.ie, 01-6762069.
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland: g3reg@nmbi.ie, 01 6398500, my.nmbi.ie/
- Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland: noneuroute@psi.ie, 01 218 4006/01 2184000,
- thepsi.ie/tns/news/latest-news/22-04-13/Information_to_support_people_coming_to_Ireland_from_Ukraine.aspx
- Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC): info@phecc.ie /recognitionqualifications@phecc.ie, 045-882042/045-882074.
The Department has responsibility for the recognition of non-Irish qualifications for certain unregulated professions, in particular where the professional wishes to take up a post in the HSE (environmental health officers, clinical biochemists, audiologists, orthoptists and psychologists). The Department has not received any applications from those fleeing the conflict in the Ukraine but if any such professionals require information they should contact validation_unit@health.gov.ie or (01) 635 4057.
The Department of Health will continue to prioritise this issue and engage with the regulators and other key stakeholders.
