Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1001. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of an issue whereby the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council will not issue a licence to persons to continue training as a paramedic intern practitioner after a break in study due to a period of illness; the most appropriate route for re-registration; if he will put in place a back-to-practise policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31432/15]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1002. To ask the Minister for Health to explain the reason the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council will not issue a person (details supplied) in County Cork with a licence to continue training as a paramedic practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31433/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1001 and 1002 together.

The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the independent national certification and registration body for emergency medical technicians in Ireland, including paramedics and advanced paramedics. National qualifications are awarded through training and examinations, with reference to the current syllabus, clinical practice guidelines and scope of practice. These have developed and expanded considerably in recent years.

It is understood that PHECC has set out an appropriate procedure in this case. However, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on or direct an independent qualifications authority in relation to an individual case.