Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his attendance at this late sitting. I raise the question of an individual who has a university degree from Cork and proceeded to a master's degree in the University of Ulster. It appears the individual had to apply to the Department for recognition of the qualification from the University of Ulster. I am a little concerned about a letter from the Department of Health which states that non-Irish dietetic qualifications are assessed under Directive 2005/36/EC. I was not aware that a qualification from a university in Northern Ireland was regarded as non-Irish. This person has an offer of a job in Ireland but cannot take up the position because a master's degree awarded in Northern Ireland is not recognised by the Department. The Department wrote to the person on 11 September 2013 and said it would give its decision on or around 23 December 2013. I find this amazing that someone who has a primary degree from a university in Cork and is awarded a master's degree in Northern Ireland must wait up to six months from the time of application for recognition of this qualification by the Department of Health. I ask why this is taking six months for a person who is from Cork, who went to school in Cork, who has a degree from Cork and who has been offered a job. The reason the person went to Northern Ireland is that it was the only place where further studies in this particular area could be pursued.