Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for a very comprehensive reply. It is unfortunate that the Department has issued a letter to state that a qualification from Northern Ireland is termed as a non-Irish qualification. It is unfair and it is not justified. The clarification that such persons can work in the private sector is not what the individual was advised. It is interesting that this clarification is now given because the individual was advised he could not work at all without recognition by the Department. I thank the Minister for that clarification. The correspondence that my constituent received clearly indicates that a decision is not expected to be made until 23 December 2013.