Foreign-qualified architect registration
Norris raised the refusal to enrol a highly qualified Filipino-born Irish architect with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland and asked the Leader to raise it with the Minister. The Chair noted it was outside the Order of Business but allowed him to continue.
I thank the Leader.
I also wish to raise the case of an architect of Filipino origin who is now an Irish citizen. While he lived in the Philippines, he was employed in an architectural practice ranked 63rd in the world. He was the major design architect for several international projects and has degrees in architecture coming out his ears. He graduated third out of 900 people in his postgraduate degree. However, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland is refusing to enroll him. It will not let him in. He is better qualified than most of its members.
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I hasten to add that that has nothing to do with the Order of Business. The Senator may carry on.
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The Leas-Chathaoirleach is familiar with how Senators often behave on the Order of Business.
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We saw it in the past ten minutes.
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I understand that under the Building Control Act 2007, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has the right to put a person on the register of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. I will provide the Leader with the information I have on this case. I ask him to raise with the Minister the possibility of placing the man on the register.