Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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564. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of money the Health Service Executive spent recruiting doctors and nurses from abroad respectively in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the projected expenditure for 2014 for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53909/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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565. To ask the Minister for Health the number of non-Irish doctors, and non-Irish nurses respectively working in the Irish health services and Health Service Executive; the number of those that have been directly recruited from abroad by the HSE respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53910/13]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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566. To ask the Minister for Health the number and percentage of doctors working for the Health Service Executive that are from countries identified by the World Health Organisation as having a critical shortage of health workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53911/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 566 together.

In May 2010, Ireland was one of the 193 Member States that unanimously adopted the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel at the 63rd World Health Assembly. The Global Code establishes and promotes voluntary principles and practices for the ethical international recruitment of health personnel and the strengthening of health systems. The Department of Health, in collaboration with the Health Service Executive and Irish Aid, is the designated national authority for reporting on implementation of the Global Code.

Ireland is committed to implementation of the Global Code, as evidenced most recently by the national commitments given at the 3rd Global Forum on Human Resources for Health. Ireland has also been recognised internationally for its work in this area, receiving a Health Worker Migration Policy Council Innovation Award in November 2013. This award celebrates progress made by countries working to address the challenges of health worker migration.

I have asked the HSE to revert directly to the Deputy in relation to the data sought. I am committed to Ireland achieving self-sufficiency in medical staffing and, as set out in the Haddington Road Agreement, the retention of graduates of Irish Medical Schools within the public health system and the attraction back to Ireland of such graduates, where they have left previously.