There is a growing shortage of doctors from outside the European Union in the Republic of Ireland. Doctors' leaders attribute the situation to the introduction just over three years ago of stricter assessment exams, which include proficiency in English.

A number of senior doctors are warning that the situation is now so critical that some hospital departments may possibly collapse this summer.

When the new system was put in place in December 1996, there were more than 1000 applications a year for temporary registration from doctors outside the European Union. The number has plummeted, and when the first exam was to be held it had to be postponed because only four applications …