Mr. Stuart Anderson:

I thank the Senator for his interest in this particular subject. First, it is important to acknowledge that this is actually a citizens' rights issue, but one that has economic consequences. There was a framework in place that put specific obligations on regulators to recognise qualifications. Under the EU system, there was a framework and the regulators operated within it. What we have now is a system whereby the UK is considering its permanent long-term framework but has a temporary framework in place to recognise the qualifications of professionals from EEA states, including Ireland.

The difficulty with this is that the likes of architects and other professions are agreeing mutual recognition arrangements among themselves. When I last spoke to BEIS, it understood that there were approximately ten memorandums of understanding or arrangements of some description in place between the various regulators in the UK and Ireland. What we would want is a reciprocal framework under a bilateral agreement. This was raised as an issue in the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's letter to Vice President Šefovi, and it should feature in the discussions between the relevant policymakers, stakeholders and regulators. As the Senator acknowledged, issues like this are often market led. As such, we would want a framework that was clear so that, regardless of the profession, people would know that they would not be treated any differently than those in other professions. A reciprocal framework that places an obligation on regulators on both sides of the Border to recognise qualifications is missing. While it is great that there is ongoing regulator-to-regulator work, I am concerned that there will be fragmentation over time.