Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

462. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the decision by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council not to accept applicants for paramedic employment posts from paramedics who have successfully completed the international paramedic programme through the Emergency Services Training Institute in conjunction with Crowder College of Missouri in the United States of America; if he is aware that paramedics trained on this programme can apply for posts in the British National Health Service; if he will ensure that such qualified personnel are not denied the opportunity to work here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46201/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

PHECC provides recognition of training institutions for provision of specific training courses.  It may also provide recognition of professional qualifications in pre-hospital emergency care obtained from institutions other than recognised institutions, at a level of competence determined by the Council.

PHECC has appropriate procedures for considering recognition of qualifications other than from approved institutions. Any individual wishing to register as a paramedic in Ireland should therefore contact PHECC in the first instance.