Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the exemption of doctors in training under Section 17 of the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act 2003. [8571/07]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act 2003 in the context of contracts for doctors under Section 17 of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8441/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 361 together.

I presume that the questions posed by the Deputies refer to junior doctors, also known as non-consultant hospital doctors. By virtue of not being excluded by the terms of Section 17 of the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003, junior doctors are covered by the provisions of the 2003 Act. The inclusion of junior doctors under the terms of the 2003 Act was viewed at the time of the enactment of the legislation as being positive in regard to employment practices because non-consultant hospital contracts meant that such doctors were already covered by employment law and by specific employment contracts.

In the circumstances, I do not propose to review the inclusion of junior doctors under the terms of the 2003 Act.