Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 14, line 9, to delete “or”.

Section 8 inserts a number of new sections into the Dentists Act 1985, which relate to recognition of qualifications for entry to the register and registration. The Bill's draft section 26B sets out the means by which the Dental Council can recognise the qualifications for registration. Section 26B.(1)(d), to which these amendments relate, concerns the recognition of qualifications which are neither an Irish qualification nor one automatically recognised under the professional qualifications directive. In the event of a no-deal Brexit - a matter Deputy Donnelly was concerned about - this will apply to UK qualifications. Section 27 of the Dentists Act is being repealed and the Bill's proposed text in section 26B.(1)(d) replicates the text from section 27(2)(d) of that Act. However, on review, it was considered that the text could be made clearer. The amendment to the Bill makes it clear that the Dental Council may approve courses of training and exams already undertaken to allow for registration, as well as specifying exams set by the Dental Council which applicants must take and pass to show equivalence in order to achieve registration. This makes clear the legal base for any mutual recognition agreement which the Dental Council might make with a third country. That is relevant to Deputy Donnelly's query. The new text replicates text being inserted into the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, by virtue of section 83 of the Bill.