Dr. Anthony Breslin:

I do not know if it is appropriate but Deputy Donnelly raised the matter of junior doctors from overseas not sitting examinations. Is it okay for me to clarify that for the record? All doctors from overseas coming into Ireland either sit an examination set by the Medical Council before they register in the country or they have other reasons - including the sitting of other examinations and experience - that would allow them not to sit the examination we set. Those people have sat other examinations. No graduate from overseas goes on the Irish register without an assessment of their clinical skills.