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

I apologise for not being coherent and clear enough. I understand the importance of the issue and I am trying to understand it. There was a five-year window for consultants who were in place, qualified and had received appropriate training and experience to be included in the specialist register. There is no question about their qualifications, but they did not avail of the opportunity in the five-year period. It is not that they were not eligible but just that they did not avail of the opportunity to do so within the five-year period. With this provision, we are seeking to open the window again. The specialist register was introduced under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 and there was a five-year window for registration. Some 30 to 40 consultants who are in post did not avail of that opportunity. They have continued in post and are still not on the specialist register. This provision allows them an opportunity to apply for inclusion in the register. It does not reduce the requirements they have to meet, which is the Deputies’ concern. It does not diminish in any way, shape or form the requirement to have the necessary training, experience and qualifications. It gives them an opportunity to apply for inclusion in the specialist register. We are reopening the window which legislation previously opened for a five-year period, of which opportunity these consultants did not avail.