Mr. Philip Kelly:

While the proposal seems like a good idea, the directive as it stands provides for almost automatic recognition for nurses, doctors and architects on the basis of there being a kind of harmonised training with regard to duration and content for them. In respect of other professions, so-called, this is not the case and the card is meant to be a kind of passport for them. However, this brings one into the anecdotal territory of the Austrian chimney sweep who has a professional card and whether Ireland, when allowing chimney sweeps in or out, will begin to issue professional cards or whether they might in fact not be adding to barriers. There is a debate under way within Europe as to whether a number of professions should be deregulated before they are given a card and that running debate essentially is one of the issues that has added to the delay.