Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

2523. To ask the Minister for Health if he will engage with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) to review its English language requirements for overseas-qualified nurses, particularly those already registered with the UK NMC (details supplied); if he will consider requesting the NMBI to review its policy to allow more flexible recognition, for example through a one-year exemption or an hours-based practice requirement, in order to ensure fairness and help address staffing needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46548/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is the independent, statutory organisation which regulates the nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland.

Their mission is to protect the public and the integrity of the professions of nursing and midwifery through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct.

Nurses and midwives who practise in Ireland must be registered with the NMBI and have their qualifications recognised to proceed to an application for registration.

It is important that as the regulator, NMBI is satisfied that an overseas applicant meets the educational, experiential and English language requirements. The NMBI is always keen to consider the optimal mechanisms to assess overseas nurses and has made several modifications over the past year. The NMBI recently commissioned the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) to review the use of other evidence available to support an applicant's demonstration of language competency. On foot of that review, the NMBI is satisfied that the current assessment process is optimal in protecting the public and supporting nurses and midwives who want to work in Ireland from overseas. The process is outlined below.

Internationally educated nurses who have completed their education and training outside Ireland must undergo an education assessment for their qualifications to be recognised. An assessment is carried out to check if the applicant meets the European Union (EU) Directive 36/2005/36 requirements.

The NMBI assesses all overseas applications to ensure that their qualifications and English language requirements meet the NMBI standards. To join the Register, all applicants are required to have the necessary knowledge and competency in English to communicate effectively and safely in their practice. This is important in relation to the NMBI’s role in protecting service users and the broader public. This is a requirement of the NMBI registration process, as language competence is a critical aspect of patient safety.

The NMBI continues to support applications from registered nurses and midwives who qualified outside of Ireland and wish to join the Register of Nurses and Midwives. As of 31 May 2024, there were 44,994 nurses/midwives on the NMBI register who qualified outside of Ireland. The NMBI are keen to register more nurses and midwives to meet the demands of the health sector, while ensuring that all nurses and midwives working in Ireland provide excellent quality of care.