Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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672. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department plans to strengthen the system of mutual recognition of professional qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21322/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science serves as the national coordinator and national assistance centre for Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. This Directive, which has been transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 8 of 2017, provides the main legal framework to facilitate the mutual recognition of professional qualifications between EU/EEA member states.

Given its regulatory nature, the recognition of EU/EEA and Third Country qualifications that would give access to a regulated profession is the responsibility of the relevant national regulatory body. My Department does not have a role in the performance of this function.

In my Department’s coordination role, it works with the European Commission, other Member States and Irish regulatory bodies to support the operation of the Directive and to assist citizens seeking the recognition of their qualifications. In this capacity my Department has and will continue to work with regulators to deepen the implementation of this Directive and to share broader international best practice in respect of the recognition of qualifications.