Ireland recognises 24 of the 35 specialties at present and the new document COM (2002) 119 final will place a twofold burden on doctors whose specialty is not one of the 17 recognised by all member states. First, it will oblige them to seek verification from any member state in which they propose to practise. The EU currently guarantees them the right to practise provided that they are registered in any one member state. This is an extremely important part of the internal market. Second, the drive to innovate and improve the quality of medicine will be hampered. Any doctor wishing to practise a specialty not currently offered in another member state will have to seek the right to practise, whereas, as things stand, the law allows him to practise as of right.