Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Bill, as passed by this House, amends the Health Act 2004 to give the Minister for Health the power to designate the HSE as the competent authority to compare the equivalence of non-Irish qualifications with the qualifications assessed for certain health professions. These are professions which are not regulated on a statutory basis but which are regulated for the purpose of the EU professional qualification directive and for which the Minister is currently the competent authority. Concerns were raised on Committee Stage in the Seanad on behalf of the Environmental Health Association of Ireland regarding the HSE being the competent authority for environmental health officers, EHOs, one of the professions for which the HSE would become competent authority if so designated. I understand that the Environmental Health Association of Ireland believes this would be a conflict of interest if the HSE were to act as both employer and deciding body in respect of qualification recognition. The association is also concerned about the appropriateness of the HSE acting as competent authority for environmental health officers when the executive is not the exclusive employer of the EHOs, with many employed outside the health sector including, for example, by local authorities.

The Department received advice from the Office of the Attorney General on how to eliminate any potential conflict of interest arising in respect of the HSE undertaking the dual role of employer and competent authority. However, the Minister recognises the concerns raised by the Environmental Health Association of Ireland and these will need to be reviewed and fully considered by officials. Until such time as these can be fully considered, the Minister is satisfied that it is appropriate and safe for the status quo to remain and it is proposed, therefore, to remove this provision from the Bill.

See this speech in context