Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 114: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the new graduate medical programme at the University of Limerick, leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, entitles a graduate to automatic registration as a registered medical practitioner under the Medical Practitioners Act (details supplied) in the same way as those with such degrees from the NUI and the University of Dublin have an automatic entitlement; if not if there are proposals for the Medical Council to extend such recognition to the course at Limerick University; if the university or the students currently enrolled are aware of the present situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2825/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

No medical graduate from any Irish university is entitled to automatic registration as a medical practitioner. All graduates have to successfully complete an internship of one year before they can register.

The graduate entry programme at the University of Limerick is accredited by the Medical Council. This accreditation is provisional as it is the Council's policy that full accreditation is not given to any programme until a cohort of students have completed the programme. The Medical Council will be monitoring the University of Limerick's programme as it rolls out and obtaining the views of students is a key part of this review process. The University of Limerick is fully aware of the accreditation situation.