Two Indian doctors resigned from Waterford Regional Hospital last week following a refusal to allow them join the Medical Council's training register, the Dáil was told.

Independent TD John Halligan said Indian doctors were not being treated equally with Irish and EU doctors and claimed the Department of Health and the HSE were sending a "clear message" to them, that they were "sufficiently qualified to provide essential services in a time of crisis but we do not want them in our hospitals in the long-term".

Mr Halligan questioned why since 2011 Indian doctors, who were brought into the country, were not being permitted to join the register which would give them the same rights as colleagues from everywhere else in the world, to progress their medical training.

He asked Minister for Health James Reilly whether Indian-born doctors working in Irish hospitals were adequately qualified and if they were he queried why they were not allowed to join the reigster.

The Waterford TD said Indian doctors were being brought into Ireland to bridge gaps in services but there were not given the same rights as their Irish and European colleagues.

There was a danger that many Indian doctors might leave Ireland over the issue and this would “have a catastrophic effect on already-battered staffing levels”.

Dr Reilly said there were different reciprocal arrangements with different countries about regulations on registration.

However, he said he had only been informed today about the issue but that as of yesterday, Waterford had its full complement of eight consultants, including two on a temporary basis.

“If the two are the same ones on temporary contracts then that’s something I can take up with the Deputy. I’ll have to speak with the department.”

He said the Medical Council was an independent statutory body and it was primarily a matter for that organisation and not an issue he could interfere in.