Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

After the Bill had progressed through the Dáil and prior to its passage through the Seanad, legal advice was received on the need to include more detail on what the board may include on criteria in rules. These amendments are for clarification on this matter.

Amendment No. 3 clarifies what criteria can be used for assessing applications for registration. It provides that criteria can include qualifications, education and training, and relevant competencies for registration, possession of sufficient knowledge of language or languages necessary to practice as a nurse or midwife in the State, requirements for relevant post-registration experience or clinical experience, and any other matters in relation to the setting of criteria that is necessary or desirable for the protection of the public. It is important that this is clarified, in particular, in relation to language proficiency.

Amendment No. 4 sets out proposed amendments to section 13(2)(l) and (m) which provide for the setting of criteria on education and training rules and also the setting of criteria on nurses who have not practised for a time. The amendment clarifies that the criteria in the rules regarding education and training relate to persons seeking admission to education and training programmes, bodies which may deliver education and training programmes, and any other matters in the setting of criteria necessary for the protection of the public.

This amendment also sets out the board's power to set criteria and conditions for persons wishing to return to practise nursing or midwifery after not having practised for a period, which the board specifies in rules. The criteria or conditions will include the education and training of those persons, possession of sufficient knowledge of language or languages necessary to practise as a nurse or midwife in the State, the manner of verifying that the person possesses the relevant competencies, and any other matters on the setting of criteria that is necessary or desirable for the protection of the public.

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