1.—This Act may be cited as the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.

2.—(1) This Act comes into operation on the day that the Minister may, by order, appoint.

(2) Different days may be appointed under this section, by one or more than one order, for different purposes or different provisions of this Act.

3.—(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

F1[“Act of 1956” means the Opticians Act 1956;]

F1[“afocal goggles” or ”afocal sunglasses” means goggles or sunglasses containing lenses with no optical power;]

“bye-law” means a bye-law made by a registration board under section 31;

F6["condition" includes a restriction;]

F1[“contact lenses” includes any device, designed to be worn in contact with the ocular surface, for the correction of vision, for the provision of a decorative or cosmetic effect, for a therapeutic purpose, or for any other reason, and regardless of the optical properties or the absence of optical properties of the device;]

“Council” means the Health and Social Care Professionals Council established under section 6;

“Court” means the High Court;

“designated profession” means a health or social care profession that—

(a) is designated in section 4(1), or

(b) is designated by regulation under section 4(2);

F2["Directive 2005/36/EC" has the meaning assigned to “Directive” in Regulation 3(1) of the Professional Qualifications Regulations;]

“establishment day” means—

(a) in relation to the Council, the day appointed under section 6(3) for its establishment, and

(b) in relation to a registration board, the day appointed under section 26(3) for its establishment;

“fee” means a fee set by the Council from time to time under section 18;

“functions” includes duties and responsibilities;

F6["health or social care", in relation to a person (howsoever described), means the health or social care that the person provides or has provided in his or her capacity or former capacity as a member of a relevant profession;]

“health or social care profession” has the meaning given by section 4(3);

F6["material matter", in relation to a person (howsoever described), means—

(a) any of the following taken by any regulatory body (whether in or outside the State) in relation to the provision of one or more than one kind of health or social care by the person—

(i) the imposition of conditions on any registration or licence,

(ii) the suspension, withdrawal or removal of any registration or licence, or

(iii) the refusal to grant registration or a licence,

or

(b) a conviction in the State for an offence triable on indictment (other than a spent conviction within the meaning of section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 ) or a conviction outside the State for an offence consisting of acts or omissions that, if done or made in the State, would constitute an offence triable on indictment;]

“Minister” means the Minister for Health and Children;

F1[“new name”, in relation to a registration board referred to in section 26(1), means the most recent name (if any) that the board has been given pursuant to regulations under section 4;]

F3[“professional qualification”, in relation to registration of a person in a designated profession, means a document, other than a document referred to in the definition of "qualification" in this section, that attests to the person’s having achieved a standard of proficiency in that profession, whether or not that standard was achieved in part through practical experience in that profession; ]

F4["Professional Qualifications Regulations" means the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 8 of 2017);]

F3[“qualification”, in relation to registration of a person in a designated profession, means a document that attests to the person’s having achieved the standard of proficiency required for registration in that profession, and that—

(a) in the case of registration sought under F5[section 38(2)(a)], has been approved by bye-law of the registration board of the profession concerned,

(b) in the case of registration sought under section 91(1), is listed in the third column of Schedule 3 opposite the profession concerned, or

(c) in the case of registration sought under section 91(5), has been prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under section 95;]

F1[“ready-made reading spectacles” means spectacles that have 2 single vision lenses each of which has the same positive spherical power not exceeding 4 dioptres and the purpose of which is to relieve the condition known as presbyopia;]

“register” means a register established and maintained under section 36;

“registrant”, in relation to a designated profession, means an individual whose name is entered in the register of members of that profession;

“registration board” means a board established under section 26 or established by regulation under section 4;

F1[“relevant day” means the day on which section 2 of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 is commenced;]

F1[“relevant medical disability”, in relation to a person seeking registration as a member of a designated profession, or who is a registrant of that profession, means a physical or mental disability of the person (including addiction to alcohol or drugs) which may impair his or her ability to practise that profession or a particular aspect thereof;]

F6["relevant profession" means any of the following professions:

(a) dentist;

(b) a designated profession;

(c) medical practitioner;

(d) midwife;

(e) nurse;

(f) pharmacist;]

F6["restriction" includes a condition;]

“rule” means a rule made by the Council under section 22;

F1[”spectacles” includes—

(a) contact lenses,

(b) pince-nez, and

(c) monocles,

but does not include—

(i) afocal goggles or similar articles,

(ii) afocal sunglasses or similar articles, or

(iii) ready-made reading spectacles;]

“superannuation benefit” means a pension, gratuity or other allowance payable on resignation, retirement or death.

(2) In this Act “material interest” is to be construed in accordance with section 2(3) of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995.

(3) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to a register includes a division of the register and “registered” and “registration” are to be construed accordingly.

F6[(3A) Unless otherwise specified in this Act, nothing in this Act shall be construed to prejudice the performance by a registration board of its functions under the Professional Qualifications Regulations as the competent authority in respect of the regulated professions (within the meaning of Regulation 3 of those Regulations) concerned.]

(4) In this Act—

(a) a reference to a section, Part or Schedule is to a section or Part of, or a Schedule to, this Act, unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended,

(b) a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is to the subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended, and

(c) a reference to any other enactment is to that enactment as amended by or under any other enactment, including this Act, unless the context otherwise requires.

4.—(1) For the purposes of this Act, the following health or social care professions are designated:

(a) clinical biochemist;

(b) dietitian;

F7[(ba) dispensing optician;]

(c) medical scientist;

(d) occupational therapist;

F7[(da) optometrist;]

(e) orthoptist;

(f) physiotherapist;

(g) podiatrist;

(h) psychologist;

(i) radiographer;

(j) social care worker;

(k) social worker;

(l) speech and language therapist.

(2) After consulting the Council, the Minister may, by regulation, designate for the purposes of this Act any health or social care profession not already designated under subsection (1), but only if—

(a) the fitness of the members to practise their profession is not regulated by or under another Act of the Oireachtas,

(b) the Minister has given interested persons, organisations and other bodies an opportunity to make representations to him or her concerning the proposed designation,

(c) the Minister considers that it is appropriate and in the public interest that the profession be designated under this Act, and

(d) the steps in subsection (8) have been taken.

(3) A health or social care profession is any profession in which a person exercises skill or judgment relating to any of the following health or social care activities:

(a) the preservation or improvement of the health or wellbeing of others;

(b) the diagnosis, treatment or care of those who are injured, sick, disabled or infirm;

(c) the resolution, through guidance, counselling or otherwise, of personal, social or psychological problems;

(d) the care of those in need of protection, guidance or support.

(4) In considering for the purposes of subsection (2)(c) whether it is appropriate and in the public interest that a health or social care profession be designated under this Act, the Minister shall have regard to the following factors:

(a) the extent to which the profession has a defined scope of practice and applies a distinct body of knowledge;

(b) the extent to which the profession has established itself, including whether there is at least one professional body representing a significant proportion of the profession's practitioners;

(c) the existence of defined routes of entry into the profession and of independently assessed entry qualifications;

(d) the profession's commitment to continuing professional development;

(e) the degree of risk to the health, safety or welfare of the public from incompetent, unethical or impaired practice of the profession;

(f) any other factor that the Minister considers relevant.

F8[(5) Regulations under this section shall, in relation to a profession designated in the regulations, either—

(a) (i) subject to subsection (5A), include provision for the establishment of a registration board for that profession, and

(ii) specify the name by which the registration board is to be known,

or

(b) specify—

(i) the name (or, if applicable, the new name) of the registration board referred to in section 26(1) that shall be the registration board for that profession, and

(ii) that, in order to take account of the fact referred to in subparagraph (i), from the date on which the first appointment under section 28A(4) or (5), as the case may be, takes effect, the registration board referred to in that subparagraph—

(I) is to cease to be known by the name (or, if applicable, the new name) it had immediately before that date, and

(II) shall be known by the new name specified for it in the regulations.

(5A) Regulations under this section may establish one registration board for 2 or more professions designated in the regulations.]

(6) Regulations under this section may prescribe a title to be used by registrants of each profession designated by the regulations and, for that purpose, may also prescribe one or more than one variant of the prescribed title.

(7) Regulations under this section may also vary, as the Minister considers necessary or expedient in view of the increase in the number of designated professions F7[(whether effected by virtue of an amendment to subsection (1) or by regulations under this section)]—

(a) the total number of persons to be appointed as ordinary members of the Council under section 9(3)(b), and

(b) the number of them to be appointed to represent the management of a sector, organisation or body, or to represent an establishment or interest, referred to in any subparagraph of that section.

(8) Regulations may be made under this section only if—

(a) a draft of the proposed regulation has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, and

(b) a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House.

5.—Any expenses incurred by the Minister in administering this Act are, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, payable out of money provided by the Oireachtas.

6.—(1) On the establishment day, a body to be known as An Chomhairle um Ghairmithe Sláinte agus Cúraim Shóisialaigh or in the English language as the Health and Social Care Professionals Council is established to perform the functions and exercise the powers assigned to it by this Act.

(2) The Council is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and it may—

(a) sue and be sued in its corporate name,

(b) acquire, hold and dispose of land or an interest in land, and

(c) acquire, hold and dispose of any other property.

(3) The Minister may, by order, appoint a day as the establishment day of the Council.

(4) Subject to this Act, the Council may regulate its own procedure and the procedure of each registration board.

(5) Schedule 1 applies to the Council.

7.—The Object of the Council is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among registrants of the designated professions.

8.—(1) The Council shall do all things necessary and reasonable to further its object and shall exercise its powers and perform its functions in the public interest.

(2) Without limiting the Council's responsibilities under subsection (1), its functions are to—

(a) oversee and co-ordinate the activities of registration boards,

(b) provide administrative support and secretarial assistance to registration boards and their committees,

(c) receive applications and make decisions under Part 4 concerning the refusal of registration boards to grant or restore registration,

(d) enforce standards of practice for registrants of the designated professions, including the codes of professional conduct and ethics adopted by their registration boards,

(e) establish committees of inquiry into complaints under Part 6 against registrants of the designated professions,

(f) make decisions and give directions under Part 6 relating to the imposition of disciplinary sanctions on registrants of the designated professions,

(g) advise the Minister, either on its own initiative or at the Minister's request, on all matters relating to the Council's functions under this Act,

(h) encourage registration boards to collaborate with each other, where practicable, including in the professional education and training of registrants,

(i) issue assessment guidelines for the purposes of section 91, and

(j) perform any function that may be assigned by the Minister to the Council and that relates to—

(i) the registrants of any designated profession, their education and training and the practice of the profession, or

(ii) the implementation of any directive or regulation of the Council of the European Union concerning the practice of, and persons engaged in, health care or social care.

(3) The Council has power to do anything that appears to it to be requisite, advantageous or incidental to, or to facilitate, the performance of its functions under this Act.

9.—(1) The Council is to consist of a chairperson and ordinary members, all of whom are to be appointed by the Minister in accordance with this section.

(2) A registrant is not eligible to be appointed chairperson of the Council.

(3) The following are to be appointed as ordinary members:

(a) for each designated profession, one person F10[(referred to in this Act as a "professional member")] who, subject to subsections (6) and (7)—

(i) is an elected member of the registration board of the designated profession concerned, and

(ii) is nominated by that board for appointment to the Council;

(b) 9 persons of whom—

(i) one is representative of the management of the public health sector, the public social care sector or both sectors,

(ii) one is representative of the management of a voluntary or private sector organisation concerned with health or social care,

(iii) one is representative of third level educational establishments involved in the education and training of persons with respect to the practice of the designated professions and is nominated by the Minister for Education and Science, and

(iv) 6 are representative of the interest of the general public and are appointed with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment;

(c) 3 persons who have such qualifications, interests and experience as, in the opinion of the Minister, would be of value to the Council in performing its functions.

(4) Before appointing a chairperson under subsection (1) or an ordinary member under subsection (3)(b)(i) or (ii) or (c) or subsection (6), the Minister shall consult with any organisations that he or she considers appropriate.

(5) Persons appointed to represent the interests of the general public may include members of advocacy groups and users of services provided by the designated professions.

F11[(6) The Minister shall, in the circumstances described in subsection (7), appoint as a professional member for a designated profession, instead of a person who meets the criteria in subsection (3)(a), a person who is engaged—

(a) in the practice of that profession,

(b) in the education or training of persons with respect to the practice of that profession, or

(c) as a member of that profession, in the management of services provided by that profession.

(7) The circumstances in which the Minister shall make an appointment in accordance with subsection (6) are:

(a) the initial appointment of a professional member to the Council as a result of a health or social care profession F12[being designated in section 4(1) or by regulation under section 4(2)]; or

(b) an appointment of a professional member to the Council F13[to fill a casual vacancy or] when the term of a professional member expires and the registration board of the designated profession in the practice of which those professional members are engaged—

(i) has not been established, or

(ii) has been established but has not conducted an election for members of that registration board in accordance with section 28(2).]

F14[(8) The Council shall elect a deputy chairperson of the Council from amongst its members in accordance with Schedule 1.]

F15[(9) In this section, "casual vacancy" has the same meaning as it has in Schedule 1.]

10.—(1) A member of the Council or of any committee established by the Council under this Act shall be paid, out of funds at the Council's disposal, such allowances for travelling and subsistence expenses incurred in respect of the member's attendance at a meeting of the Council or committee or F17[otherwise] in connection with the affairs of the Council as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may determine.

(2) In addition to any allowances payable under subsection (1), F16[a member of the Council or of any committee established by the Council under section 51 may be paid by the Council, out of funds at its disposal, such remuneration for performing functions under this Act] as may be determined by the Council with the approval of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

11.—(1) The Council shall appoint a chief executive officer to—

(a) carry on and manage and control generally the administration and business of the Council and the registration boards,

F18[(b) act as registrar of each registration board,

(ba) perform any other functions that may be delegated by the Council or a registration board, and]

(c) perform any other duties that may be determined by the Council.

(2) The chief executive officer holds office on the conditions (including those relating to remuneration and allowances) that may be determined by the Council with the approval of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

(3) The chief executive officer shall be paid by the Council, out of funds at its disposal, the remuneration and allowances determined under subsection (2).

F19[(4) If the chief executive officer is absent or the position of chief executive officer is vacant, the functions of the chief executive officer under this Act may be performed by a member of the staff of the Council designated by the Council.]

12.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Council may appoint persons to be members of its staff and may determine their duties.

(2) The numbers and grades of staff to be appointed under this section and the conditions (including those relating to remuneration and allowances) of their appointment shall be determined by the Council with the approval of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

(3) Staff appointed under this section shall be paid by the Council, out of funds at its disposal, the remuneration and allowances determined under subsection (2).

(4) Subject to subsection (5), the Council may make and carry out arrangements with any person or body to assist any of the following in performing their functions or exercising their powers under this Act:

(a) the Council;

(b) a committee of the Council;

(c) a registration board;

(d) a committee of a registration board.

(5) The Council's power to make an arrangement to assist a registration board or a committee of a registration board may be exercised only at the request of the registration board concerned.

13.—(1) The Council shall prepare and submit to the Minister one or more than one scheme for granting superannuation benefits to or in respect of such members of its staff (including the chief executive officer) as the Council considers appropriate.

(2) Each superannuation scheme shall fix the time and conditions of retirement for all persons to or in respect of whom superannuation benefits are payable under the scheme, and different times and conditions may be fixed in respect of different classes of persons.

(3) A superannuation scheme submitted to the Minister under this section shall, if approved by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance, be carried out in accordance with its terms.

(4) A superannuation scheme may be amended or revoked by a subsequent scheme prepared, submitted and approved under this section.

(5) The Council may not grant, or enter any arrangement for the provision of, any superannuation benefit to or in respect of a member of its staff (including the chief executive officer), except in accordance with a superannuation scheme approved under this section or approved by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

(6) Any dispute about the claim of any person to, or the amount of, a superannuation benefit payable in pursuance of a superannuation scheme approved under this section shall be submitted to the Minister who shall refer it to the Minister for Finance for decision.

(7) The Minister shall ensure that a superannuation scheme approved under this section is laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after it is approved.

(8) Either House of the Oireachtas may, by a resolution passed within 21 sitting days after the day on which the superannuation scheme is laid before it, annul the scheme.

(9) The annulment of a superannuation scheme under subsection (8) takes effect immediately on the passing of the resolution concerned, but does not affect the validity of anything done under the scheme before the passing of the resolution.

14.—(1) A member of the Council's staff (including the chief executive officer) is immediately seconded from employment by the Council if he or she is—

(a) nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann,

(b) elected as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or of the European Parliament, or

(c) regarded pursuant to section 19 of the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 as having been elected to the European Parliament to fill a vacancy.

(2) A person seconded from employment under subsection (1) shall not be paid by, or entitled to receive from, the Council any remuneration or allowances in respect of the period of secondment and that period shall not, for the purposes of any superannuation benefit, be counted as service with the Council.

(3) In relation to a person seconded from employment under subsection (1), the period of secondment begins on the occurrence of the relevant event referred to in that subsection and ends when the person ceases to be a member of either House of the Oireachtas or of the European Parliament.

(4) A person who is entitled under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas to sit in that House or who is a member of the European Parliament is, while so entitled or such a member, not eligible to be employed in any capacity by the Council.

15.—(1) In this section—

“meeting” means a meeting of the Council or of a committee of the Council;

“member” means a member of the Council or of a committee of the Council;

“specified matter” means—

(a) an arrangement to which the Council is a party or a proposed such arrangement, or

(b) a contract or other agreement with the Council or a proposed such contract or other agreement.

(2) Any member present at a meeting where a specified matter arises who, otherwise than in his or her capacity as a member, has a material interest in that matter shall—

(a) at the meeting disclose to the Council or committee the nature of that interest,

(b) withdraw from the meeting for as long as the matter is being discussed or considered,

(c) take no part in any deliberation of the members relating to the matter, and

(d) refrain from voting on any decision relating to the matter.

(3) If a member discloses a material interest under this section—

(a) the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting concerned, and

(b) for as long as the matter to which the disclosure relates is being dealt with by the meeting, the member shall not be counted in the quorum for the meeting.

(4) If at a meeting a question arises as to whether or not a course of conduct, if pursued by a member, would be a failure by the member to comply with subsection (2)—

(a) the chairperson of the meeting may, subject to subsection (5), determine the question,

(b) the chairperson's determination is final, and

(c) the particulars of the determination shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

(5) If the chairperson is the member in respect of whom the question arises, the other members present at the meeting shall choose one of their number to be the chairperson of the meeting for the purposes of subsection (4).

(6) A member who, otherwise than in his or her capacity as a member, has a material interest in a specified matter shall neither influence nor seek to influence any decision to be made by the Council or committee in relation to that matter.

(7) On being satisfied that a member of the Council has failed to comply with subsection (2) or (6), the Minister may remove that member from office.

(8) A member removed from office under this section is not eligible for appointment under this Act.

16.—(1) A member of the Council's staff (including the chief executive officer) who, otherwise than in his or her capacity as such a member, has a material interest in a specified matter as defined in section 15(1) shall—

(a) disclose to the Council the nature of that interest,

(b) take no part in the negotiation of the arrangement, contract or other agreement concerned or in any deliberation by the Council or its employees relating to that matter,

(c) refrain from making any recommendation relating to the matter, and

(d) neither influence nor seek to influence a decision to be made in relation to the matter.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to contracts or proposed contracts of employment of the members of the Council's staff with the Council.

(3) If a person fails to comply with this section, the Council may make such alterations to the person's conditions of employment as it considers appropriate or may terminate the person's contract of employment.

17.—(1) The Council shall pay the following expenses out of funds at its disposal:

(a) all expenses incurred by the Council, including the expenses of providing administrative support and secretarial assistance to registration boards and their committees;

(b) all expenses incurred by registration boards and their committees as a result of arrangements made under section 12(4).

(2) The Council may allocate in the manner that it may determine the surplus, if any, of funds at its disposal to—

(a) the development of education,

(b) research, or

(c) any other public purpose,

connected with any one or more than one of the designated professions.

18.—(1) The Council may charge such fees as may, from time to time, be set by the Council for any or all of the following:

(a) registration under this Act;

(b) retention of registration;

(c) the issue of a certificate of registration to a registrant;

(d) the removal of a name from a register under section 39(1);

(e) the restoration of a name to a register under section 39(2), 40(2) or 73;

F20[(ea) subject to subsection (1A), the consideration by a registration board of an application under section 48 by an institution for approval of an education and training programme;

(eb) subject to subsection (1A), the annual retention of an approval under section 48 by a registration board of an institution’s education and training programme;]

(f) any other service that the Council or a registration board may provide.

F20[(1A) The Council shall not exercise its power under subsection (1)(ea) or (eb) except with the consent of the Minister.]

(2) The Council may recover as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction, from a person by whom the fee is payable, any amount due and owing to the Council in respect of a fee charged under this section.

19.—(1) For the purpose of providing for current or capital expenditure, the Council may borrow money subject to any conditions that may be imposed by, or in accordance with any directions that may be given by, the Minister.

(2) Any money borrowed pursuant to this section and any interest accruing on it may be secured on the Council's revenue, funds or property.

20.—The Council may accept gifts of land, money or other property on the trusts and conditions, if any, that may be specified by the donor, provided those trusts and conditions are consistent with the Council's object and functions.

21.—(1) The Council shall keep all proper and usual accounts of—

(a) all income received by the Council (including the sources of such income),

(b) all expenditure (including the subject matter of the expenditure) incurred by—

(i) the Council,

(ii) a committee of the Council,

(iii) each registration board, and

(iv) a committee of a registration board,

and

(c) the Council's assets and liabilities.

(2) Not later than 3 months after the end of the financial year to which the accounts relate, the Council shall submit the accounts prepared under this section to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit.

(3) After the audit, the Council shall present to the Minister the audited accounts together with the Comptroller and Auditor General's report.

(4) The Minister shall ensure that, as soon as possible after the audited accounts and the report are presented to the Minister, copies of them are laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(5) As soon as possible after the laying of copies before the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Council shall ensure that the audited accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General's report are printed, published and put on sale.

22.—(1) The Council may, subject to subsections (3) to (5), make rules providing for—

(a) the establishment, membership, functions and procedures of committees of the Council or a registration board,

(b) the form and manner in which registration boards are to maintain registers,

(c) the details relating to registrants that, in addition to their names, are to be entered in registers,

(d) the division of registers into specified divisions for different categories of registrants,

(e) the manner in which fees are to be paid and the time limits for payment of annual fees for retention of registration,

(f) the receiving and recording of evidence by committees established under Part 6,

(g) the receiving of submissions by committees established under Part 6, and

(h) any other matter relating to the Council's functions under this Act.

(2) Rules under subsection (1)(f) and (g) may, among other things, specify—

(a) the form in which and the means by which evidence or submissions may be received by committees established under Part 6, and

(b) the conditions subject to which evidence or submissions may be received by those committees by means of a live-video link, a video recording, a sound recording or any other mode of transmission.

(3) The Council shall ensure that—

(a) a draft of any rule that it proposes to make is published in such manner as the Council may determine, and

(b) with the draft is published an invitation to members of the public, any organisation and any other body to comment on the draft before a date specified by the Council in the invitation.

(4) After considering any comments received before the date specified in the invitation, the Council may—

(a) make the rule in the form of the draft as published or with such changes as the Council may determine, or

(b) decide not to make the rule.

(5) Subsections (3) and (4) apply also in relation to a proposed amendment or revocation of a rule.

(6) The Council shall ensure that as soon as practicable after a rule is made it—

(a) is published in such manner as the Council may determine, and

(b) is submitted to the Minister for laying before each House of the Oireachtas.

(7) Instead of exercising the power to make rules providing for the establishment, membership, functions and procedures of committees of a registration board, the Council may, by rule and subject to any limits or conditions it considers appropriate, authorise the board to make bye-laws providing for any or all of those matters.

(8) Subsections (4) to (6) of section 95 apply with the necessary modifications to rules submitted to the Minister in accordance with this section as if they were regulations made by the Minister.

23.—(1) The Council may establish committees of the Council to perform any of its functions or exercise any of its powers under this PartF21[, section 42B or 43] or Part 5 that, in its opinion, may be better or more conveniently performed or exercised by a committee and that are assigned by the Council to a committee.

(2) A committee established under this section is to consist of the chairperson of the committee and such other persons, whether members of the Council or not, as the Council may appoint.

(3) In making appointments under subsection (2) to a committee, the Council shall have regard to the necessity of including as members of the committee an appropriate number of persons representative of the interest of the general public.

(4) A person is eligible to be appointed as chairperson of a committee established under this section only if he or she is a member of the Council.

(5) The acts of a committee established under this section are subject to confirmation by the Council, unless the Council dispenses with the necessity for confirmation.

(6) The Council may regulate the procedure of a committee established under this section but, subject to any such regulation, a committee may regulate its own procedure.

(7) The Council may at any time dissolve a committee established under this section.

24.—(1) If the Council does not perform a function assigned to it under this Act, the Minister may, by order, direct the Council—

(a) to perform that function, and

(b) for that purpose, to do any other thing that is ancillary or incidental to the function.

(2) If the Council does not comply with a provision of an order under subsection (1), the Minister may, by order, remove from office any or all of its members.

(3) An order under subsection (2) may contain any provisions that the Minister considers necessary to enable the Council's functions to be performed despite the removal from office of any or all of its members and may, in particular, provide for the appointment of one or more than one person to perform any or all of the Council's functions.

F22[(4) The removal of the members of the Council from office does not revoke or otherwise affect any delegation of the Council’s functions under section 11.]

25.—(1) Not later than 3 months after the end of each financial year, the Council shall submit to the Minister a report of the activities of the Council and of each registration board in the immediately preceding financial year.

(2) The Minister shall ensure that a copy of the report is laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after the submission of the report.

26.—(1) The following bodies are established, on their respective establishment days, to perform the functions and exercise the powers assigned under this Act to the registration board of a designated profession:

(a) Clinical Biochemists Registration Board;

(b) Dietitians Registration Board;

(c) Medical Scientists Registration Board;

(d) Occupational Therapists Registration Board;

F23[(da) the Optical Registration Board;]

(e) Orthoptists Registration Board;

(f) Physiotherapists Registration Board;

(g) Podiatrists Registration Board;

(h) Psychologists Registration Board;

(i) Radiographers Registration Board;

(j) Social Care Workers Registration Board;

(k) Social Workers Registration Board;

(l) Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board.

F23[(1A) The Optical Registration Board is the registration board of both the designated profession of optometrist and the designated profession of dispensing optician.]

(2) Each registration board (whether established by this section or by regulation under section 4) is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a seal and may sue or be sued in its corporate name.

(3) The Minister may, by order, appoint a day to be the establishment day of a registration board (whether established by this section or by regulation under section 4) and may appoint different days for different registration boards.

(4) Subject to this Act, each registration board may regulate its own procedure, but only to the extent that the Council decides not to do so.

(5) Schedule 2 applies to each registration board.

27.—(1) The object of the registration board of a designated profession is to protect the public by fostering high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among registrants of that profession.

(2) A registration board shall do all things necessary and reasonable to further its object and shall exercise its powers and perform its functions in the public interest.

(3) Without limiting its responsibilities under subsection (2), the functions of the registration board of a designated profession are to—

(a) establish and maintain a register of members of the designated profession F25[(which, in the case of a registration board which is the registration board of 2 or more designated professions, means a register for each of those professions)],

(b) issue certificates of registration under section 41,

(c) give guidance to registrants concerning ethical conduct and give guidance and support to them concerning the practice of the designated profession and continuing professional development,

(d) monitor, in accordance with section 49, the continuing suitability of programmes approved by the board for the education and training of applicants for registration, and

(e) F26[…]

(4) The registration board of a designated profession has power to do anything that appears to it to be requisite, advantageous or incidental to, or to facilitate, the performance of its functions under this Act and it may, with the Council's approval—

(a) engage in research into education and training relating to the practice of the designated profession, including the formulation of experimental curricula and the evaluation of existing programmes and examination and assessment procedures, and

(b) maintain statistical records and make those records available for research and planning.

F27[(5) Without prejudice to the generality of section 11, the registrar of a registration board shall perform any functions that may be delegated by the board.]

27A.—(1) The registration board of a designated profession is designated, as of and from the day on which its register is established under section 36(1), as the competent authority for the designated profession concerned under Directive 2005/36/EC.

(2) The registration board of a designated profession shall, on and after the day on which its register is established under section 36(1)—

(a) act as the competent authority for the purposes of all matters referred to in Directive 2005/36/EC which relate to the role of a competent authority for the purposes of the recognition of professional qualifications of persons engaged in the designated profession concerned, and

(b) assess, for the purposes of section 38(2)(c), the professional qualifications of persons referred to in that section in accordance with the procedures (if any) contained in bye-laws (if any) made under section 31(1)(e).

(3) A person who was, immediately before the day on which the register of a registration board of a designated profession is established under section 36(1), the competent authority under Directive 2005/36/EC in relation to the designated profession concerned shall, notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) but subject to subsection (4), continue to be the competent authority in relation to every application under that Directive in relation to that designated profession if, on or before that day—

(a) a decision has not been made on the application concerned, and

(b) the application has not been withdrawn.

(4) The person referred to in subsection (3) shall continue to be the competent authority in relation to each application referred to in that subsection until a final decision is made on any appeal of that decision, but nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring or permitting that person, where the decision concerned is to require the applicant concerned to undertake a compensation measure, to assess that applicant’s completion of that compensation measure.]

F29[(5) Subject to subsection (6), a person who was, immediately before the day on which the register of a designated profession is established under section 36(1), the competent authority under Directive 2005/36/EC in relation to the designated profession concerned shall, before the expiration of the number of days after that day that has been prescribed under section 95 for the purposes of this subsection, give the registration board of that profession all the records, being records of such kind and in such format that have been prescribed under section 95 for the purposes of this subsection, that are in the person’s power or control and that the person acquired in the person’s former capacity as such competent authority, that the board requires to perform its functions—

(a) as the competent authority under that Directive for that profession, and

(b) under this Act as the registration board of that profession.

(6) If the person referred to in subsection (5) requires any records referred to in that subsection for the purposes of performing a function under subsection (3) or (4), the reference in subsection (5) to "after the day" shall be construed to mean, in the case of those records, after that day on which those records are no longer required for those purposes.

(7) Any right of access, under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003, to records referred to in subsection (5) that existed immediately before the day on which those records were given to a registration board pursuant to that subsection is not affected by the giving of those records to that board.

(8) For the purposes of section 18 of the Freedom of Information Act 1997, any act done by the person referred to in subsection (5) before the day on which records referred to in that subsection were given to a registration board pursuant to that subsection is deemed to have been done by that board.]

28.—(1) Subject to F30[subsections (4) to (6) F31[…] and section 36B(1), the registration board of a designated profession, other than a registration board which is the registration board of 2 or more designated professions,] is to consist of the following members:

(a) 6 persons appointed by the Minister on their election by the registrants of that profession, of whom—

(i) 3 are to be registrants of the designated profession who are engaged in the practice of that profession,

(ii) 2 are to be registrants of the designated profession who are engaged, as members of that profession, in the management of services provided by it, and

(iii) one is to be a registrant of the designated profession who is engaged in the State in the education and training of persons with respect to the practice of the designated profession;

(b) 7 persons appointed by the Minister, of whom—

(i) one is to be representative of the management of the public health sector, the social care sector or both sectors,

(ii) one is to be representative of the management of a voluntary or private sector organisation concerned with health or social care,

(iii) one is to be representative of third level educational establishments in the State involved in the education and training of persons with respect to the practice of the designated profession and is nominated by the Minister for Education and Science, and

(iv) 4 are to be representative of the interest of the general public and are appointed with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

(2) The election of members under subsection (1)(a) shall be conducted in accordance with the bye-laws of the registration board concerned and before the commencement of the members' terms of office.

(3) Before appointing a member under subsection (1)(b)(i) or (ii) or (4), the Minister may consult with any organisations that he or she considers appropriate.

(4) When the registration board of a designated profession is first constituted, F32[and until the end of the transitional period, within the meaning of section 90, in relation to the profession concerned] subsection (1)(a) does not apply and instead the Minister shall appoint 6 persons, of whom—

(a) 3 are to be persons who are engaged in the practice of the designated profession,

(b) 2 are to be persons who are engaged, as members of the designated profession, in the management of services provided by it, and

(c) one is to be a person who is engaged in the State in the education and training of persons with respect to the practice of the designated profession.

(5) If no person qualifies under subsection (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) for election or under subsection (1)(b)(iii) or (4)(b) or (c) for appointment to the registration board concerned—

(a) subsection (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) or subsection (1)(b)(iii) or (4)(b) or (c), as the case may be, does not apply in relation to the board, and

(b) the references in subsections (1)(a) and (4) to 6 persons and in subsection (1)(b) to 7 persons are, in relation to the board, to be read as modified accordingly.

(6) If, for any reason other than the operation of subsection (5), fewer than 6 registrants of a designated profession are elected as members of its registration board under subsection (1)(a), the Minister may appoint as members of the board sufficient registrants of that profession to compensate for the deficiency in the number of elected registrants.

(7) Registrants appointed to a registration board under subsection (6) are, during their term of office, considered to be elected members of the board.

F33[(8) F34[…]]

28A.—(1) Subject to subsections (4), (5), (6), F36[(7) and (10)(a)], a registration board that is the registration board of 2 or more designated professions is to consist of the following members:

(a) 6 persons appointed by the Minister on the election of the person concerned by the registrants of that designated profession of which he or she is a member, of whom—

(i) 3 are to be registrants of any of those professions that are prescribed for the purposes of this subparagraph and who are engaged in the practice of any of those professions so prescribed,

(ii) 2 are to be registrants of any of those professions that are prescribed for the purposes of this subparagraph and who are engaged, as members of any of those professions so prescribed, in the management of services provided by any of those professions so prescribed, and

(iii) one is to be a registrant of any of those professions that are prescribed for the purposes of this subparagraph and who is engaged in the State in the education and training of persons with respect to the practice of any of those professions so prescribed;

(b) 7 persons appointed by the Minister, of whom—

(i) one is to be representative of the management of the public health sector, the social care sector or both sectors,

(ii) one is to be representative of the management of a voluntary or private sector organisation concerned with health or social care,

(iii) one is to be representative of third level educational establishments in the State involved in the education and training of persons with respect to the practice of one or more than one of those professions and is nominated by the Minister for Education and Skills, and

(iv) 4 are to be representative of the interest of the general public and are appointed with the consent of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

(2) The election of members under subsection (1)(a) shall be conducted in accordance with the bye-laws of the registration board concerned and before the commencement of the members’ terms of office.

(3) Before appointing a member under subsection (1)(b)(i) or (ii), (4) or (5), the Minister may consult with any organisations that he or she considers appropriate.

(4) Subject to subsection (10)(b), when the registration board of 2 or more designated professions is first constituted, F37[and until the end of the transitional period (if any) within the meaning of section 90, in relation to each of the professions concerned] subsection (1)(a) does not apply and instead the Minister shall appoint 6 persons, of whom—

(a) 3 are to be persons engaged in the practice of any of those professions that are prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph,

(b) 2 are to be persons who are engaged, as members of any of those professions that are prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph, in the management of services provided by any of those professions so prescribed, and

(c) one is to be a person who is engaged in the State in the education and training of persons with respect to the practice of any of those professions that are prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph.

(5) Subject to subsection (10)(b), when regulations under section 4, in relation to a designated profession that falls within paragraph (b) of the definition of "designated profession" in section 3(1), specify the name (or, if applicable, the new name) of a registration board referred to in section 26(1), being a registration board that has already been constituted, that shall be the registration board for that profession F38[and until the end of the transitional period within the meaning of section 90, in relation to the profession concerned], subsection (1)(a) does not apply and instead the Minister shall appoint 6 persons, of whom—

(a) 3 are to be persons engaged in the practice of any of those professions that are prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph,

(b) 2 are to be persons who are engaged as members of any of those professions that are prescribed for the purpose of this paragraph, in the management of services provided by any of those professions so prescribed, and

(c) one is to be a person who is engaged in the State in the education and training of persons with respect to the practice of any of those professions that are prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph.

(6) (a) When the Minister appoints 6 persons under subsection (5) in respect of a registration board referred to in that subsection, the persons who were, immediately before that appointment, members of the board by virtue of—

(i) section 28(1)(a), (4), (5) (in so far as it relates to section 28(1)(a)(ii) or (iii)) or (6), or

(ii) subsection (1)(a), (4), (5) (in so far as it relates to subsection (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) ) or (6),

shall cease to be members of the board from the date that that appointment takes effect.

(b) Paragraph (a) shall not of itself be construed to prevent any of the persons second-mentioned in that paragraph from being any of the 6 persons the subject of the appointment referred to in that paragraph.

(7) If no person qualifies under subsection (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) for election or under subsection (1)(b)(iii), (4)(b) or (c) or (5) (b) or (c) for appointment to the registration board concerned—

(a) subsection (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) or subsection (1)(b)(iii), (4)(b) or (c) or (5)(b) or (c), as the case may be, does not apply in relation to the board, and

(b) the references in subsections (1)(a), (4) and (5) to 6 persons and in subsection (1) (b) to 7 persons are, in relation to the board, to be read as modified accordingly.

(8) If, for any reason other than the operation of subsection (7), fewer than 6 registrants of the designated professions concerned are elected as members of its registration board under subsection (1)(a), the Minister may appoint as members of the board sufficient registrants of those professions to compensate for the deficiency in the number of elected registrants.

(9) Registrants appointed to a registration board under subsection (8) are, during their term of office, considered to be elected members of the board.

(10) (a) The number of persons who may be elected by the registrants of a particular designated profession for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) shall be as prescribed but, in any case, shall never be less than one.

(b) The number of persons who may be appointed from a particular designated profession for the purposes of subsection (4) or (5) shall be as prescribed but, in any case, shall never be less than one.

(11) F39[…]]

29.—A member of a registration board or of any committee of a registration board shall be paid, out of funds at the Council's disposal, such allowances for travelling and subsistence expenses incurred in respect of the member's attendance at a meeting of the board or committee or otherwise in connection with the affairs of the board as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may determine.

30.—(1) The Chief executive officer of the Council is the registrar of each registration board.

(2) The registrar is responsible for performing on behalf of each registration board its functions under Part 4.

(3) The Council may designate one or more than one member of its staff as deputy registrar.

(4) Any function or power of the registrar that is performed or exercised by a deputy registrar is considered to have been performed or exercised by the registrar.

(5) The Council shall provide such administrative support and secretarial assistance to each registration board and its committees as the Council considers necessary.

31.—(1) With the Council’s approval and in accordance with any guidelines issued under subsection (7), the registration board of a designated profession may, subject to section 32, make bye-laws relating to any or all of the following matters:

(a) the conduct of elections for the appointment of members under section 28 F40[or 28A, as appropriate,] to the board;

(b) applications for registration in the register of that profession or for restoration to the register;

(c) qualifications approved for the purposes of section 38(2)(a) as attesting to the standard of proficiency required for registration;

(d) requirements, for the purposes of section 38(1)(d), as to knowledge of the language necessary for practising that profession in the State;

F41[(e) procedures for the assessment of professional qualifications, training, experience, aptitude tests or adaptation periods for the purposes of sections 38(2)(c), 91(1)(c)(i)(II) and 91(5)(c)(i)(II);]

(f) the conditions for registration in a division of the register of that profession, but only if division of the register is authorised by any rules or guidelines issued by the Council;

F42[(fa) criteria or conditions, including criteria or conditions as to further education, training or experience, for persons who wish to—

(i) commence the practice of that profession where the person concerned—

(I) holds an approved qualification (within the meaning of section 38), or

F43[(II) was awarded both a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science by the Institute of Physical Therapy and Applied Science Dublin and a Diploma in Physical Therapy by that Institute,]

and he or she has not practised the profession, for a period specified in the bye-laws, since obtaining the approved qualification or Bachelor of Science and Diploma concerned, or

(ii) resume the practice of that profession after not having practised the profession for a period specified in the bye-laws,

including criteria or conditions relating to—

(I) the education and training of those persons,

(II) the manner of verifying that those persons possess the relevant competencies, or

(III) any other matter where, in the opinion of the registration board concerned, the specification in bye-laws of criteria or conditions relating to that matter is necessary or desirable for the protection of the public;]

(g) criteria for restoration to the register of that profession F44[other than where paragraph (fa) applies];

(h) the education, training and continuing professional development of registrants of that profession;

(i) the adoption and revision of a code of professional conduct and ethics;

F44[(ia) the practice of the designated profession, and the period that the registration board considers to be sufficient in the public interest, and that is not less than 500 hours nor more than 4,000 hours, during which that practice is to be engaged in, for persons to be registered under section 91;]

F40[(ib) if the board is the Optical Registration Board, for the purposes of section 81C or 81D;]

(j) any other matter specified by the Council in its guidelines.

F45[(2) A code of professional conduct and ethics adopted by the registration board of a designated profession must specify—

(a) the standards of conduct, performance and ethics expected of registrants of that profession, and

(b) that registrants of that profession act within the limits of their knowledge, skills, competence and experience.]

(3) If authorised by the Council under section 22(7), a registration board may make bye-laws providing for the establishment, membership, functions and procedures of committees of the board.

(4) Bye-laws under subsection (1) may establish categories of registrants and may be different for different categories of registrants.

(5) Where a proposed bye-law under paragraph (c) or (h) of subsection (1) might result in an additional burden being imposed on the Exchequer, the bye-law may be made only if—

(a) after receiving a draft of the proposed bye-law for its approval, the Council refers the draft to the Minister, and

(b) both the Council and the Minister approve the draft.

(6) Subsection (5) applies also in relation to a proposed amendment or revocation of a bye-law under paragraph (c) or (h) of subsection (1).

(7) For the purposes of this section, the Council may issue guidelines applicable to all or any of the registration boards.

32.—(1) A registration board shall ensure that—

(a) a draft of any bye-law that it proposes to make is, before the draft is submitted to the Council for approval, published in such manner as the board may determine, and

(b) with the draft is published an invitation to the public, any organisation and any other body to comment on the draft before a date specified by the board in the invitation.

(2) After considering any comments received before the date specified in the invitation, the registration board may—

(a) subject to subsections (3) to (5), submit to the Council for approval the draft bye-law either in the form in which it was published or with such changes as the board may determine, or

(b) decide not to proceed further with the draft bye-law.

(3) If a draft bye-law that a registration board proposes to submit to the Council under subsection (2)(a) relates to the adoption or revision of a code of professional conduct and ethics, the board shall—

(a) before submitting the draft bye-law to the Council, submit it to the Competition Authority for its opinion as to whether any provision of the draft bye-law would, if the bye-law were made, be likely to result in competition being prevented, restricted or distorted, and

(b) request that the opinion be given in writing to the board before the date specified in the request.

(4) If, before the date specified in the request, the registration board receives from the Competition Authority a written opinion that a provision of the draft bye-law would, if the bye-law were made, be likely to result in competition being prevented, restricted or distorted, the board shall—

(a) take that opinion into account and change the draft bye-law accordingly before submitting it to the Council for approval, or

(b) without making any changes to the draft bye-law, submit it to the Council for approval and supply the Council with a copy of the Authority's opinion together with the board's written reasons for not taking the opinion into account.

(5) Subsections (2) to (4) apply also in relation to a proposed amendment or revocation of a bye-law.

(6) A registration board shall ensure that as soon as practicable after a bye-law of the board is made it—

(a) is published in such manner as the board may determine, and

(b) is submitted to the Minister for laying before each House of the Oireachtas.

(7) Subsections (4) to (6) of section 95 apply with the necessary modifications to bye-laws submitted to the Minister in accordance with this section as if they were regulations made by the Minister.

33.—(1) With the Council's approval and subject to any rules under section 22(1) or bye-laws under section 31(3), a registration board may establish committees to perform any of its functions or exercise any of its powers under this Part, Part 4 or Part 5 that, in the board's opinion, may be better or more conveniently performed by a committee and that are assigned by the board to a committee.

(2) A committee established under this section is to consist of the chairperson of the committee and such other persons, whether members of the registration board or not, as the board may appoint.

(3) In making appointments under subsection (2) to a committee, a registration board shall have regard to the necessity of including as members of the committee an appropriate number of persons representative of the interest of the general public.

(4) A person is eligible to be appointed as chairperson of a committee of a registration board only if he or she is a member of that board.

(5) The acts of a committee are subject to confirmation by the registration board, unless, in the case of a committee established under this Part or Part 5, the board dispenses with the necessity for confirmation.

(6) A registration board may regulate the procedure of its committees if authorised to do so under section 22(7), but, subject to any such regulation, a committee may regulate its own procedure.

(7) A registration board may at any time dissolve a committee of the board.

34.—(1) If a registration board does not perform a function assigned to it under this Act, the Minister may, by order, direct the board—

(a) to perform that function, and

(b) to do any other thing that is ancillary or incidental to the function.

(2) If a registration board does not comply with a provision of an order under subsection (1), the Minister may, by order, remove from office any or all of its members.

(3) An order under subsection (2) may contain any provisions that the Minister considers necessary to enable the functions of the registration board concerned to be performed despite the removal from office of any or all of its members and may, in particular, provide for the appointment of one or more than one person to perform any or all of the board's functions.

F46[(4) The removal of the members of a registration board from office does not revoke or otherwise affect any delegation of the board’s functions under this Act.]

35.—(1) Within the period specified under subsection (2), each registration board shall submit to the Council a report of its activities in the immediately preceding financial year.

(2) The Council may specify the period within which a report is to be submitted by a registration board, having regard to the time needed to include the contents of the board's report in the Council's report under section 25 for the same financial year.

36.—(1) The registration board of each designated profession shall—

(a) as soon as practicable after the board's establishment day, establish a register of members of that profession,

(b) enter in the register the name of every person granted registration by the board under section 38 or 91 F47[, or entitled, by virtue of section 79(4) (b), to use a title referred to in section 79(1), (2) or (3),] and any other details relating to that person that are required by the Council under its rules, and

(c) maintain the register in accordance with the rules.

(2) If authorised by any rules made or guidelines issued by the Council, a register may be divided into the divisions specified in those rules or guidelines for different categories of registrants.

36A.—(1) A person who, immediately before the relevant day, was registered in a division of the Register of Optometrists within the meaning of the Act of 1956 shall, on the relevant day, be deemed to be registered in the equivalent division of the register of optometrists, and any conditions that were, immediately before the relevant day, attached to his or her registration in that division of that Register of Optometrists shall, on the relevant day, be deemed to be attached to his or her registration in that equivalent division of the register of optometrists.

(2) A person who, immediately before the relevant day, was registered in a division of the Register of Dispensing Opticians within the meaning of the Act of 1956 shall, on the relevant day, be deemed to be registered in the equivalent division of the register of dispensing opticians, and any conditions that were, immediately before the relevant day, attached to his or her registration in that division of that Register of Dispensing Opticians shall, on the relevant day, be deemed to be attached to his or her registration in that equivalent division of the register of dispensing opticians.]

36B.— ...]

37.—(1) A person seeking registration as a member of a designated profession shall apply to the registration board of that profession.

(2) The application must be in the form and contain the information required by the bye-laws of the registration board concerned.

(3) The registration board may—

(a) verify or require the applicant to verify anything contained in the application,

(b) request the applicant to supply to the board, within a reasonable time specified by the board, further information relating to the application, and

(c) require that information requested under paragraph (b) be supplied by means of a statutory declaration.

38.—(1) The registration board of a designated profession shall grant registration to any person who—

(a) complies with section 37 and with any requirement imposed on, or request made to, him or her under that section,

(b) F50[subject to subsections (1A) and (2A) to (2D),] holds an approved qualification in that profession,

(c) satisfies the board that he or she is a fit and proper person F50[(including, subject to section 40A, physically and mentally a fit and proper person)] to engage in the practice of the profession,

F58[(ca) where the board has made a bye-law under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of section 31(1)(fa) in respect of persons who hold an approved qualification (within the meaning of section 38), satisfies the board, if the bye-law applies to him or her, that he or she has met the criteria and fulfilled the conditions specified in that bye-law,]

(d) F51[…] satisfies the board as to his or her knowledge of the language necessary for practising the profession in the State, and

(e) pays the required fee to the Council.

F50[(1A) (a) Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) does not apply in the case of a person seeking registration as a member of the designated profession of optometrist if he or she was at any prior time registered in the Register of Optometrists within the meaning of the Act of 1956.

(b) Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) does not apply in the case of a person seeking registration as a member of the designated profession of dispensing optician if he or she was at any prior time registered in the Register of Dispensing Opticians within the meaning of the Act of 1956.]

F52[(2) F53[Subject to subsections (2A) and (2D), a person holds] an approved qualification in a designated profession if—

(a) the person has been awarded a qualification in the State,

(b) the person is a person to whom Directive 2005/36/EC applies and whose professional qualification in that profession is recognised in the State in accordance with F53[that Directive,]

(c) the person is a person other than a person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), who is eligible to practise that profession in a state other than a state in relation to which Directive 2005/36/EC applies and who—

(i) holds a professional qualification in that profession that the registration board concerned decides is one that attests to a standard of proficiency corresponding to the standard attested to by the relevant qualification referred to in paragraph (a), or

F54[(ii) holds a professional qualification that is one that the registration board concerned decides is not a professional qualification that attests to such a standard of proficiency, but is the subject of a decision of the registration board that he or she successfully completed, in the State, the aptitude test or adaptation period that the registration board has required of the person,]]

F55[(d) the person is a person, other than a person referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c), who—

(i) was lawfully engaged in the practice of that profession for a period of not less than 5 years, and

(ii) holds a qualification (being a qualification that has never been, or that has formerly been, a qualification within the meaning of section 3(1)) awarded in the State—

(I) listed opposite that profession in the third column of Schedule 3, or

(II) prescribed under section 95 for F54[that profession, or]]

F56[(e) in the case of a relevant designated profession, the person is a person, other than a person referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d), who holds a relevant professional qualification in that profession.]

F57[(2A) Subject to subsection (2B), a person seeking registration as a member of the designated profession of optometrist shall not be registered as such unless he or she has undergone such courses of training and passed such examinations that, immediately before the relevant day, were specified for the purposes of section 24 of the Act of 1956 in rules made under section 18 of that Act.

(2B) Subject to subsection (2C), subsection (2A) shall cease to be in operation immediately upon the coming into operation of a bye-law (if any) made by the Optical Registration Board relating to—

(a) the designated profession of optometrist, and

(b) a matter falling within section 31(1)(c).

(2C) Subsection (2A) shall not cease to be in operation by virtue of subsection (2B) in the case of a person seeking registration as a member of the designated profession of optometrist who has, before the coming into operation of the bye-law referred to in subsection (2B), undergone the courses of training referred to in subsection (2A) and passed the examinations referred to in subsection (2A).

(2D) Subject to subsection (2E), a person seeking registration as a member of a designated profession (other than the profession of optometrist) in respect of which the registration board of the profession has not yet made a bye-law relating to that profession and on a matter falling within section 31(1)(c) (or, if the board has made such bye-law, the bye-law has not yet come into operation) shall not be registered as such unless he or she holds a qualification (not being a qualification within the meaning of section 3(1)) awarded in the State that renders that person eligible to be appointed as an employee of the Health Service Executive to perform, as such employee, the functions of a member of that profession.

(2E) Subsection (2D) shall cease to be in operation in relation to a particular designated profession immediately upon the coming into operation of a bye-law (if any) made by the registration board of that profession relating to that profession and on a matter falling within section 31(1)(c).]

F58[(2F) The Physiotherapists Registration Board shall grant registration to a person who—

(a) subject to subsection (2FA), applies on or after the date on which section 6 (b) of the Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Act 2017 comes into operation and not later than 30 June 2022, to the Physiotherapists Registration Board for registration,

(b) meets the requirements of paragraphs (a), (c), (d) and (e) of subsection (1),

(c) where the Physiotherapists Registration Board has made a bye-law under section 31(1)(fa) in respect of persons who were awarded both a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science by the Institute of Physical Therapy and Applied Science Dublin and a Diploma in Physical Therapy by that Institute, satisfies that Board, if the bye-law applies to him or her, that he or she has met the criteria and fulfilled the conditions specified in that bye-law, and

(d) was awarded both a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science by the Institute of Physical Therapy and Applied Science Dublin and a Diploma in Physical Therapy by that institute.

(2FA) (a) Paragraph (b) applies to a person who has made an application—

(i) referred to in subsection (2F)(a), as in force before the relevant commencement, on or before 31 December 2019, and

(ii) which has not, before the relevant commencement, been determined by the Physiotherapists Registration Board.

(b) The Physiotherapists Registration Board may, on or after the relevant commencement, determine the application without the person having to make a further application referred to in subsection (2F)(a).

(c) Paragraph (d) applies to a person who has made an application referred to in subsection (2F)(a), as in force before the relevant commencement, on or after 1 January 2020 but before the relevant commencement.

(d) The Physiotherapists Registration Board may not, on or after the relevant commencement, determine that application but without prejudice to the person’s right to make a further application referred to in subsection (2F)(a).

(e) In this subsection, "relevant commencement" means the commencement of section 29(b) of the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020.]

F56[(2G) A document that purports to be evidence of the recognition referred to in the definition of "relevant professional qualification" shall, for the purposes of this Act and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be taken to be proof of such recognition. ]

(3) A registration board may register a person in more than one division of a register if the person satisfies the conditions specified in the bye-laws for registration in each division.

F52[(4) In this section—

“adaptation period”, in relation to registration of a person in a designated profession, means the practice of that profession, whether or not that practice is accompanied by other training, under the supervision—

(a) subject to paragraph (b), of a registrant in relation to that profession, or

(b) in the case of an adaptation period that takes place during the transitional period, within the meaning of section 90, in relation to that profession, of a registrant in relation to that profession or another person who is practising that profession in the State;

“aptitude test”, in relation to registration of a person in a designated profession, means a test (which may include assessment of the knowledge of the professional rules applicable to that profession in the State, and other subjects) to assess the professional knowledge of the person that—

(a) is essential in order for a person to practise the profession in the State, and

(b) in the opinion of the registration board concerned, was not required in order for the person to obtain his or her professional qualification.]

F56["relevant designated profession" means a designated profession listed in the second column of Schedule 4;

"relevant person", in relation to a relevant designated profession, means the person listed opposite that profession in the third column of Schedule 4;

"relevant professional qualification", in relation to a relevant designated profession, means a professional qualification that was recognised by the relevant person—

(a) as a professional qualification that attested to a standard of proficiency that rendered the holder thereof eligible for recruitment by the Health Service Executive (or any specified body within the meaning of section 56 of the Health Act 2004) in the profession to which that qualification relates, and

(b) in the case of—

(i) the relevant designated profession of dispensing optician or optometrist, either—

(I) before 31 October 2015, or

(II) on or after 31 October 2015 where an assessment for the purposes of such recognition was commenced by the relevant person before that date,

and

(ii) any other relevant designated profession, either—

(I) before the date on which the register for the designated profession was established under section 36(1), or

(II) on or after the date referred to in clause (I) where an assessment for the purposes of such recognition was commenced by the relevant person before that date.]

39.—(1) A registration board may remove the name of a registrant from its register if the registrant—

(a) applies to the board for its removal,

(b) pays the required fee to the Council, and

(c) is not at the time of application the subject of a complaint or inquiry under Part 6.

(2) A registration board shall restore the name of a person to its register if—

(a) the name was removed from the register solely because of an application under subsection (1),

(b) the person applies to the board for restoration to the register and pays to the Council the required fee, and

(c) the person meets the criteria established by bye-law for restoration to the register.

40.—(1) The Council may decide to direct a registration board to remove from its register the name of a registrant who—

(a) has failed to pay within the time required by the rules the annual fee for retention of registration, and

(b) has been notified on more than one occasion by the Council to pay the fee.

(2) A registration board shall restore the name of a person to its register if—

(a) the name was removed from the register solely because of failure to pay the required fee,

(b) within 6 months after the date on which the required fee became due, the person applies to the board for restoration to the register, and

(c) the person pays to the Council both the annual fee for retention of registration and a fee for restoration to the register.

F59[(3) Subsection (4) applies where a registration board has—

(a) removed from its register the name of a registrant pursuant to a direction under subsection (1), or

(b) restored the name of a person to its register pursuant to subsection (2).

(4) The Council shall, as soon as practicable after the removal or restoration concerned—

(a) notify the Health Service Executive,

(b) notify the employer of the registrant or person, as the case may be, the subject of the removal or restoration if the employer’s name is known to the Council,

(c) notify such other persons as the Council thinks fit, and

(d) advise the public,

of the removal or restoration (in particular, the name of the registrant or person and the date on which the removal or restoration took effect).]

40A.—F61[(1) A person making an application for registration as a member of a designated profession shall declare in the application—

(a) whether he or she has a relevant medical disability, and

(b) whether any material matter has occurred in relation to the person.]

(2) Where the registration board concerned is satisfied that—

(a) a person making an application for registration as a member of a designated profession has a relevant medical disability F62[or a material matter has occurred in relation to him or her], and

(b) in the interests of public safety, registration should only be granted to the person subject to conditions on the practising of that profession which take account of that disability F62[or material matter],

the board shall specify the conditions (in this section referred to as the "proposed conditions") which, in the opinion of the board, are necessary to be attached to the registration of the person in those interests.

(3) Where the person the subject of a decision under subsection (2) agrees in writing to the attachment of the proposed conditions to the registration, the registration board concerned shall register the person and at the same time enter in the register concerned—

(a) a statement that the registration is subject to conditions, and

(b) particulars of the conditions.

(4) A registrant who, at the time of registration, did not have a relevant medical disability but develops a relevant medical disability at any time after registration shall notify the registration board concerned of that development—

(a) not later than 30 days after the day on which he or she becomes aware of that development, or

(b) where the relevant medical disability concerned renders it impracticable for the registrant to notify the board within those 30 days, as soon as is practicable in the circumstances.

(5) Where the registration board is satisfied, after receiving a notification under subsection (4), that in the interests of public safety, the registration of the registrant should become subject to conditions on the practising of the designated profession concerned which take account of the relevant medical disability concerned, the board shall decide that conditions should be attached to the registration of the registrant in those interests, specify those proposed conditions and propose that the registrant accept that those conditions be attached to his or her registration.

(6) Where the registrant the subject of a decision under subsection (5) agrees in writing to the attachment of the proposed conditions, the registration board shall attach those conditions to the registration of the registrant and at the same time enter in the register concerned—

(a) a statement that the registration is subject to conditions, and

(b) particulars of the conditions.

(7) Where the registrant the subject of a decision under subsection (5) refuses, in writing, to agree to the attachment of the proposed conditions, or does not respond within 30 days after receiving the decision from the registration board, the board shall make a complaint under section 52(1)(c).

(8) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the registration board from exercising its power under subsection (2) for a second or subsequent time in respect of the same person where the board is satisfied (whether on grounds put to it by that person or on other grounds) that a previous decision made by it under that subsection in respect of that person ought to be replaced by a new decision under that subsection.]

41.—(1) A registration board shall, as soon as practicable after the date of registration or after the restoration of a person's name to its register, issue to the registrant a certificate of registration stating that his or her name is entered in its register.

(2) A registration board shall, as soon as practicable after refusing to grant registration to a person or refusing to restore a person's name to a register or after complying with a direction of the Council to remove a person's name from a register, notify the person of its decision.

42.—(1) A notification of decision under this Part must include the following information:

(a) the decision;

(b) the date on which it was made;

(c) the reason for the decision.

(2) The notification must also include—

(a) if the decision relates to a registration board’s refusal to grant registration or to restore a person’s name to its register, F63[or relates to a decision made by a registration board in the performance of its functions under F64[section 27A(2)(b)]] the time allowed under section 43 for applying to the Council for F65[cancellation of the decision,]

(b) if the decision relates to the Council’s confirmation of a decision referred to in paragraph (a), the time allowed under section 44 for bringing an appeal to the Court for F66[cancellation of the decision, or]

F67[(c) if the decision is a decision referred to in section 42B(2A), information concerning the right to apply to the Council for a direction under that paragraph.]

42A.— (1) (a) A registration board shall acknowledge receipt in writing of an application by a person for the assessment of his or her professional qualifications under F69[section 27A(2)(b)] not later than on the expiry of the one month period that begins when the application is submitted, and include in that acknowledgement—

(i) a statement as to whether all documents required for that assessment have been submitted, or

(ii) a list of one or more than one further document required to be submitted before the assessment may be undertaken.

(b) If one or more than one further document is submitted in compliance with paragraph (a)(ii) (or otherwise), the registration board shall acknowledge receipt in writing of that further document or those further documents not later than on the expiry of the one month period that begins with that submission, and subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (a) shall apply to acknowledgements under this paragraph, with all necessary modifications.

(2) The registration board shall, not later than on the expiry of the 4 month period that begins when the application (and, if applicable, the further document or documents referred to in subsection (1)(b)) is acknowledged, notify the applicant in writing of its decision in relation to the assessment.]

42B.— (1) A person may apply to the Council for the cancellation of a decision made by a registration board in the performance of its functions under F71[section 27A(2)(b)] where that decision was a decision—

(a) F72[…]

(b) that a professional qualification is not one that attests to the standard of proficiency required under section 38(2)(c)(i), or

(c) that there has not been successful completion, in the State, of an aptitude test or adaptation period under section 38(2)(c)(ii).

(2) A person may apply to the Council for a direction by the Council to a registration board—

(a) to acknowledge receipt of an application made by the person F73[for the assessment of his or her professional qualifications under section 27A(2)(b)], within such period as the Council may specify, where—

(i) the board has not acknowledged receipt of that application before the expiry of the period within which it was required to do so under section 42A(1), and

(ii) if applicable, the board has not acknowledged receipt of the further document or documents referred to in section 42A(1)(b) before the expiry of the period within which it was required to do so under that section,

or

(b) to notify the person of a decision F74[in relation to assessment of his or her professional qualifications under section 27A(2)(b)], within such period as the Council may specify, where the board has not notified that person of that decision before the expiry of the period within which it was required to do so under section 42A(2).

F75[(2A) A person may apply to the Council for a direction by the Council to a registration board where the registration board—

(a) decides to grant, or not to grant, an applicant partial access to a profession under Regulation 10 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(b) decides to revoke temporary registration or pro forma membership under Regulation 12(6) of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(c) decides to require an applicant to undergo compensation measures under Regulation 22 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(d) decides not to recognise the professional qualifications of an applicant under Parts 5 to 14 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(e) fails to acknowledge the receipt of an application for recognition of professional qualifications within the period provided for in Regulation 67(2) of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(f) fails to make a decision on an application for recognition of professional qualifications within the period provided for in Regulation 67(3) of the Professional Qualifications Regulations, or any extended period under Regulation 67(4) of those Regulations,

(g) decides not to issue a European Professional Card under Regulation 76 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(h) fails to make a decision on an application for a European Professional Card under Regulation 76 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations within the period provided for in paragraph (2) of that Regulation,

(i) fails to verify the authenticity of the validity of the supporting documents in the IMI file for a European Professional Card within the period provided for in Regulation 78(2) of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(j) fails to transmit an application for a European Professional Card in accordance with Regulation 78(4) of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(k) decides not to issue a European Professional Card under Regulation 79 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(l) fails to make a decision on an application for European Professional Card under Regulation 79 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations within the applicable time period provided for in paragraph (2), (3) or (8) of that Regulation,

(m) decides to revoke a document under Regulation 81 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(n) decides to reverse a decision under Regulation 82 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations,

(o) decides to carry out language controls pursuant to Regulation 85 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations, or

(p) decides to send an alert under Regulation 87 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations.]

(3) The application must be made—

F76[(a) if the application is an application under subsection (1) or (2A)—

(i) within 30 days after the person receives notification of the decision from the registration board,

(ii) within 30 days after the expiry of the period concerned, or

(iii) in the case of an application under subsection (2A)(j), within 30 days after verification of the authenticity and validity of the supporting documents in accordance with Regulation 78(2),

as appropriate, or]

(b) if the application is an application under subsection (2), within 30 days after the expiry of the period concerned.

(4) On hearing the application or on receipt of appropriate submissions, the Council may—

(a) if the application is an application under subsection (1) F77[or (2A)]—

(i) if satisfied that the registration board’s decision was properly made, confirm that decision, F78[…]

(ii) if not so satisfied, cancel that decision and do one of the following:

(I) direct the registration board to recognise the professional qualifications of the person;

(II) direct the registration board to make a new decision; F79[or]

(III) give such other directions to the registration board as the Council considers appropriate, F77[or ]

F80[(iii) in any other case, give such directions to the registration board as the Council considers appropriate,]

or

(b) if the application is an application under subsection (2)—

(i) if satisfied that the registration board did acknowledge receipt of the application (and, if applicable, the document or documents referred to in section 42A(1)(b)) before the expiry of the period within which it was required to do so under section 42A(1), refuse to direct the registration board to acknowledge receipt of the application (and any such document or documents),

(ii) if satisfied that the registration board did make the decision and notify the applicant of that decision, before the expiry of the period within which it was required to do so under section 42A(2), refuse to direct the registration board to make the decision and notify the applicant of that decision,

(iii) direct the registration board to acknowledge receipt of the application (and any such documents) or to make the decision and notify the applicant of that decision, as the case may be, within such period as the Council specifies,

(iv) give such other directions to the registration board as the Council considers appropriate.

(5) As soon as practicable after making a decision under this section, the Council shall notify the applicant of the decision.

(6) F81[…]]

43.—(1) A person may apply to the Council for cancellation of a decision made by a registration board refusing to grant the person registration or refusing to restore the person's name to its register.

(2) The application must be made within 30 days after the person receives notification of the decision from the registration board.

(3) On hearing the application or on receipt of appropriate submissions, the Council may—

(a) if satisfied that the registration board's decision was properly made, confirm that decision, or

(b) if not so satisfied, cancel that decision and do one of the following:

(i) direct the registration board to grant registration to the applicant or to restore the applicant's name to the register, as the case may be;

(ii) direct the registration board to make a new decision;

(iii) give such other directions to the registration board as the Council considers appropriate.

(4) As soon as practicable after making a decision under this section, the Council shall notify the applicant of the decision.

44.—F82[(1) A person may appeal to the Court against a decision made by the Council under section 42B(4)(a)(i), 42B(4)(b)(i) or (ii), or 43(3)(a).]

(2) The appeal must be brought within 30 days after the person receives notification of the decision from the Council.

(3) In an appeal under this section, the Court may consider any evidence adduced or argument made, whether or not adduced or made to the Council.

(4) On the hearing of the appeal, the Court may make any order or give any direction it considers appropriate, including an order—

(a) confirming the decision under appeal, or

(b) modifying or overturning that decision.

F83[(5) A decision of the Court on an appeal against a direction made by the Council on an application under section 42B(2A) shall be final and conclusive.]

44A.—(1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4), a registrant shall, in each year, give to the registration board of the designated profession concerned a declaration in writing providing particulars of any relevant proceedings that are pending or in progress.

(2) If, in any year, subsection (1) does not apply to a registrant because there are no particulars referred to in that subsection which he or she is required to give to the registration board of the designated profession concerned, the registrant shall give to the board a declaration in writing to that effect.

(3) If, in any year subsequent to a year in which a registrant gave particulars referred to in subsection (1) to the registration board of the designated profession concerned, there has been no material change in the matter to which the particulars relate, the registrant may, instead of again giving those particulars to the board, give to the board a declaration in writing to the effect that there has been no material change to the matter to which the particulars relate.

(4) A registrant shall, in each year, comply with subsection (1), (2) or (3) —

(a) not earlier than 6 weeks before he or she is required to pay, in that year, the appropriate fee set by the Council under section 18(1)(b), and

(b) not later than the last day of that 6 weeks.

(5) A registrant shall, not later than 3 months after the final determination of any relevant proceedings, give to the registration board of the designated profession concerned—

(a) a declaration in writing providing particulars of the sanctions (if any) imposed on the registrant in consequence of those proceedings, or

(b) if no such sanctions were so imposed, a declaration in writing to that effect.

(6) The registration board of the designated profession concerned may, by notice in writing given to a registrant who has made a declaration under this section, require the registrant to provide to the board, within a reasonable period specified in the notice, further information concerning any particulars provided to the board in the declaration.

(7) (a) A registrant shall comply with a notice under subsection (6) given to the registrant.

(b) Where the registration board of the designated profession concerned considers that a registrant has contravened paragraph (a), the board shall forthwith make a complaint under section 52(1)(f).

(8) In this section—

"final determination", in relation to any relevant proceedings and a registrant, means—

(a) the conclusion of those proceedings without any party to the proceedings making an appeal, against a decision in those proceedings to impose or to not impose a sanction on the registrant, within the ordinary time in the State or other jurisdiction concerned, as appropriate, for making such an appeal, or

(b) if such an appeal is made—

(i) the abandonment or withdrawal of the appeal, or

(ii) the determination of the appeal,

whichever first occurs;

"relevant proceedings", in relation to a registrant, means any disciplinary or judicial proceedings (other than any such proceedings under this Act), in respect of which the registrant is the subject—

(a) in the State or another jurisdiction which may directly or indirectly result in the registrant—

(i) being prohibited from providing one or more than one kind of health or social care in the State or that jurisdiction, or

(ii) having a restriction placed on his or her ability to provide one or more than one kind of health or social care in the State or that jurisdiction,

(b) in another jurisdiction which may result in the registrant being convicted, in that jurisdiction, for an offence consisting of acts or omissions that, if done or made in the State, would constitute an offence triable on indictment, or

(c) in the State which may result in the registrant being convicted, in the State, for an offence triable on indictment;

"sanction" includes any restriction or measure.]

45.—(1) A registrant shall, as soon as practicable, notify the registration board concerned of—

(a) any errors in the register of which the registrant is aware and that relate to his or her registration,

(b) any change in the name or address of the registrant or any change of employer,

(c) any grant to the registrant by a body (other than the board) in or outside the State of a licence, certificate or registration relating to the practice of a profession,

(d) any change in the status of such licence, certificate or registration (including the attachment of conditions to it),

(e) any matter F85[(including any material matter)] likely to affect the registrant's entitlement to such licence, certificate or registration, and

(f) any matter F85[(including any material matter)] likely to affect the registrant's entitlement to be registered under this Act.

(2) A registration board shall take the steps it considers necessary to ensure the accuracy of the information in its register.

(3) A registration board shall, for the purpose of keeping its register correct—

(a) correct all typographical errors in the register,

(b) remove from the register the names of persons convicted under section 80(4) of the offence of making or causing to be made a false declaration or misrepresentation for the purpose of obtaining registration under this Act,

(c) enter in the register every change that comes to its attention in respect of the information in the register relating to registrants, and

(d) remove from the register the name of any registrant whose death has been notified to, or otherwise come to the attention of, the board.

(4) As soon as practicable after taking any action under subsection (3), a registration board shall notify the person concerned or his or her next of kin, as the case may be, of the action and the reason it was taken.

45A.—(1) Where a registrant provides, or has provided, one or more than one kind of health or social care in the State or another jurisdiction, the Council or a registration board may make a request in writing, accompanied by the relevant statement, to the body, duly authorised in the State or that jurisdiction, as appropriate, to regulate persons who provide that kind of health or social care in the State or that jurisdiction, to provide the Council or registration board, as appropriate, with any information relevant to either or both of the following:

(a) any material matter that has occurred in the State or that jurisdiction in relation to the registrant;

(b) the registrant’s qualifications, or registration (or equivalent thereof in that jurisdiction), as a person who provides that kind of health or social care.

(2) In subsection (1) —

"registrant" includes a person who has made an application under section 37 for registration which has not yet been determined by the registration board concerned;

"relevant statement", in relation to a request under subsection (1), means a statement to the effect that any information provided to the Council or registration board, pursuant to that request, by the body to which the request is made may be used in any proceedings under this Act concerning the registrant the subject of the request.]

46.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), a registration board shall—

(a) make its register available for inspection by members of the public at all reasonable times, and

(b) publish, by electronic and not less than one other means, its register at intervals of not more than 12 months from the date of the establishment of the register or the last publication of the register.

(2) A registration board need not make available for inspection or publish the residential addresses, home telephone numbers or e-mail addresses of registrants or other similar details that, in its opinion, should, in the interests of the security of registrants, be protected from disclosure.

47.—(1) In any legal proceedings, a certificate signed by the registrar stating that a person—

(a) is registered in a specified register or in a specified division of a specified register,

(b) is not registered in a specified register or in a specified division of a specified register,

(c) was at a specified date or during a specified period registered in a specified register or in a specified division of a specified register,

(d) was not, at a specified date or during a specified period, registered in a specified register or in any register or in a specified division of a specified register, or

(e) has never been registered under this Act,

is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof of the matters stated in the certificate.

(2) In any legal proceedings, a printed document that appears to be a copy of, or extract from, a register published under section 46 and that is certified by the registrar to be a true copy of or extract from that register is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof of the matters stated in the document.

(3) A certificate or document referred to in subsection (1) or (2) that appears to be signed by the registrar is admissible in any legal proceedings as evidence of the matters stated in the certificate or document, as the case may be, without proof of the registrar's signature.

48.—(1) On application by an institution for approval of an education and training programme, a registration board may—

F87[(a) subject to the payment of the fee (if any) set under section 18(1)(eb), approve that programme annually if it is satisfied that it is suitable for the education and training of candidates for registration in its register, or]

(b) refuse to approve the programme if not so satisfied.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a registration board may issue guidelines concerning the requirements for its approval of education and training programmes.

(3) On making a decision concerning an application by an institution under subsection (1), the registration board shall, by written notice, inform the institution of—

(a) the decision,

(b) the date on which it was made, and

(c) if the board refuses to approve the education and training programme, the reason for the decision.

(4) If a registration board (whether as a result of carrying out its duty under section 49 or for any other reason) is of the opinion that an education and training programme approved by it may no longer be suitable for the education and training of candidates for registration, the board shall—

(a) inform the institution concerned of the opinion and the reason, and

(b) give that institution an opportunity to make, within 30 days after the date of being so informed, representations to the board as to why the approval should not be withdrawn.

(5) If, after considering the representations, if any, made by such institution within the time allowed under subsection (4) and after consulting with the Council, the registration board decides to withdraw its approval of the education and training programme, it shall, by written notice, inform the institution of—

(a) the decision and the date on which it was made,

(b) the date, not less than 3 months after the date of the notice, on which the decision will become effective, and

(c) the reason for the decision.

(6) If a registration board refuses to approve an education and training programme or informs an institution of its decision to withdraw such approval, the institution concerned may request the Minister to direct the board to grant or continue the approval.

(7) The request to the Minister must be made within 30 days after the institution is informed under this section of the registration board's decision to refuse approval of the education and training programme or to withdraw such approval.

(8) If, after consulting the Minister for Education and Science, the Minister is satisfied as to the suitability of the education and training programme, he or she may direct the board to grant or continue the approval.

(9) If, after consulting the Minister for Education and Science, the Minister is not satisfied as to the suitability of the education and training programme, he or she may confirm the registration board's decision.

(10) A registration board shall comply with a direction given by the Minister under subsection (8).

49.—(1) A registration board shall, as occasion may require but in any event not less than once in every 5 years, satisfy itself as to—

(a) the suitability of the education, training, assessment and examination provided by any education and training programme approved by the board, and

(b) the clinical training and experience provided in any education and training programme approved by the board.

(2) After complying with subsection (1), a registration board shall make appropriate recommendations to the Minister and the Minister for Education and Science.

50.—In this Part—

“allegation” means an allegation concerning a matter that constitutes a ground for complaint under section 52(1);

“committee of inquiry” means a health committee or a professional conduct committee;

“complaint” means a complaint made under section 52;

“disciplinary sanction” means a sanction specified in any paragraph of F88[section 66(1)];

“health committee” means a committee established under section 51(1)(c);

“poor professional performance”, in relation to a registrant of a designated profession, means any failure of the registrant to meet the standards of competence that may reasonably be expected of registrants practising that profession;

“preliminary proceedings committee” means a committee established under section 51(1)(a);

“professional conduct committee” means a committee established under section 51(1)(b);

“professional misconduct”, in relation to a registrant of a designated profession, means any act, omission or pattern of conduct of the registrant that—

(a) is a breach of the code of professional conduct and ethics adopted by the registration board of that profession, or

(b) if the registrant has been granted by a body outside the State a licence, certificate or registration relating to the practice of that profession, is a breach of a standard of conduct, performance or ethics that applies to a person holding that licence, certificate or registration and that corresponds to a standard contained in the code referred to in paragraph (a).

51.—(1) The Council shall establish the following committees to perform functions and exercise powers under this Part:

(a) a preliminary proceedings committee;

(b) a professional conduct committee;

(c) a health committee.

(2) Each committee is to consist of the chairperson and such other members of the committee as are appointed by the Council in accordance with this section.

F89[(3) None of the following persons is eligible to be appointed as the chairperson or an ordinary member of a committee established under this section:

(a) the chairperson of the Council;

(b) the chairperson of a registration board;

(c) the deputy chairperson of the Council.]

(4) A majority of the members of each committee shall be registrants of the designated professions. At least one third of the members of each committee shall be persons other than registrants, at least one of whom shall be representative of the interest of the general public.

(5) For each case that comes before a committee, the majority referred to in subsection (4) shall include—

(a) at least one member who is a registrant of the same designated profession as the registrant to whom the case relates, and

(b) at least one member who is a registrant of another designated profession.

(6) Persons who are not members of the Council or of a registration board may be appointed to a committee under this section.

(7) A person is not eligible to be, at any one time, a member of more than one of the committees established under this section.

(8) The Council shall appoint a registered medical practitioner with relevant expertise to advise a health committee in relation to each complaint referred to the committee.

(9) The registered medical practitioner is to be present at the meetings of the health committee, but is not entitled to vote.

(10) The members of a committee established under this section have, in performing their functions and exercising their powers, the same protection and immunity as a judge of the Court performing the functions and exercising the powers of a judge.

(11) The Council may regulate the procedure of a committee established under this section, but, subject to any such regulation, the committee may regulate its own procedure.

(12) In this section, “registered medical practitioner” means a person whose name is entered in the General Register of Medical Practitioners established under the Medical Practitioners Act 1978.

52.—(1) A complaint may be made to the Council concerning a registrant on the grounds of—

(a) professional misconduct,

(b) poor professional performance,

F90[(c) a relevant medical disability,]

(d) a failure to comply with a term or condition of registration imposed under F91[this Act],

(e) a failure to comply with an undertaking or to take any action specified in a consent given in response to a request under section 61,

F92[(ea) the imposition on the registrant of—

(i) a prohibition against him or her providing one or more than one kind of health or social care in the State or another jurisdiction, or

(ii) a restriction on his or her ability to provide one or more than one kind of health or social care in the State or another jurisdiction,]

(f) a contravention of this Act, the rules or bye-laws, or

(g) a conviction in the State for an offence triable on indictment or a conviction outside the State for an offence consisting of acts or omissions that, if done or made in the State, would constitute an offence triable on indictment.

(2) A complaint may be made under subsection (1) on the grounds of professional misconduct or poor professional performance even though the matter to which the complaint relates occurred outside the State.

(3) The complaint must be in writing or in any other form acceptable to the Council and it may be made by or on behalf of any person or by a registration board.

(4) The Council shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the complainant is kept informed of all decisions made under this Part by the Council or a committee in relation to a complaint and that complaints are processed in a timely manner.

53.—(1) F96[Subject to subsection (1A), as soon] as practicable after receiving a complaint, the Council shall refer the complaint to a preliminary proceedings committee for its opinion on whether there is sufficient cause to warrant further action being taken in relation to the complaint.

F97[(1A) Where a complaint is made on a ground specified in section 52(1) (g), the Council shall consider it and—

(a) if it is of the opinion that—

(i) the nature of the offence or the circumstances in which it was committed ought to disqualify the registrant from practising the designated profession concerned, and

(ii) it is in the public interest that it take action immediately under this paragraph,

the Council shall give a direction under section 66(1) to the registration board concerned to cancel the registration of the registrant, and

(b) in any other case, the Council shall comply with subsection (1) in respect of the complaint and direct the preliminary proceedings committee to deal with the complaint as if the Council had not considered it under this subsection.

(1B) Nothing in subsection (1A) shall be construed to—

(a) prejudice the generality of section 60, or

(b) F98[…]]

(2) The preliminary proceedings committee may, by written notice, do one or more of the following:

(a) require the complainant to verify, by affidavit or otherwise, anything contained in the complaint;

(b) request the complainant to supply to the committee, within a reasonable time specified in the notice, more information relating to the matter raised by the complaint;

(c) require that information requested under paragraph (b) be supplied by the complainant by means of a statutory declaration.

(3) The preliminary proceedings committee shall notify the registrant of the complaint, its nature and the name of the complainant.

(4) The registrant may supply to the preliminary proceedings committee any information that he or she believes should be considered by the committee or a committee of inquiry.

(5) If requested by the preliminary proceedings committee to supply any information relating to the complaint, the registrant shall supply the information within such reasonable time as may be specified by that committee.

F99[(5A) Subsections (1)(c) and (2) (in so far as the last-mentioned subsection relates to the production of records) of section 59 shall apply to and in relation to the preliminary proceedings committee and the chairperson of that committee as those subsections apply to and in relation to a committee of inquiry and the chairperson of the committee of inquiry and the other provisions of section 59 (including subsections (5) to (7)) shall, with all necessary modifications, be construed accordingly.]

(6) Before forming an opinion on whether there is sufficient cause to warrant further action being taken in relation to the complaint, the preliminary proceedings committee shall consider—

(a) any information supplied under this section concerning the complaint, and

(b) whether the matter is trivial or vexatious or the complaint is without substance or made in bad faith.

53A.—(1) The Council—

(a) may appoint persons (including any members of the staff of the Council other than the chief executive officer) to assist the preliminary proceedings committee, and

(b) shall determine the conditions of appointment of persons so appointed.

(2) Subject to subsection (4), the chairperson of the preliminary proceedings committee shall specify the functions to be performed by the persons appointed under subsection (1).

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), the functions specified under that subsection may include one or more than one of the following:

(a) interviewing persons for the purposes of assessing the relevance or evidential value of information or documents they wish to give to the preliminary proceedings committee;

(b) interviewing persons as to the evidence they propose to give to the preliminary proceedings committee;

(c) recording, in writing or otherwise, the statements given and answers made by persons whilst being so interviewed;

(d) reporting to the preliminary proceedings committee on the results of those interviews;

(e) requesting persons to provide the preliminary proceedings committee with statements in writing concerning any matter relevant to the committee’s functions, examining statements given in response to the requests and reporting to the preliminary proceedings committee on the results of the examinations;

(f) providing the preliminary proceedings committee with any other advice or assistance required in relation to the preparation of its reports.

(4) A person appointed under subsection (1) shall not administer oaths but may, if authorised by the preliminary proceedings committee to do so, request a person interviewed as described in subsection (3) to sign a record of a statement made or answer given by the person during the interview.

(5) A person appointed under subsection (1) who makes a request referred to in subsection (4) shall inform the person to whom the request is made of the power under section 59 of a committee of inquiry to give a direction in relation to the statement or answer the subject of the request.

(6) The Council shall provide each person appointed under subsection (1) with a warrant—

(a) identifying the person, and

(b) specifying the functions that the person has the authority to perform by virtue of subsection (2) and, if applicable, subsections (4) and (5).

(7) Where a person appointed under subsection (1) performs a function specified in that person’s warrant provided under subsection (6), the person shall produce the warrant for inspection at the request of a person in respect of whom the function is performed.]

54.—(1) If the preliminary proceedings committee is of the opinion that there is not sufficient cause to warrant further action being taken in relation to a complaint, it shall inform the Council of that opinion.

(2) After being informed of the opinion and considering the matter, the Council may—

(a) decide that no further action is to be taken in relation to the complaint, or

(b) if it considers it necessary to do so, direct that further action be taken under section 56.

(3) On deciding under subsection (2)(a) that no further action is to be taken in relation to a complaint, the Council shall so inform—

(a) the registrant who is the subject of the complaint, and

(b) the registration board concerned.

55.—(1) The Council may develop guidelines for resolving complaints by mediation or other informal means.

(2) The guidelines may include provision for any or all of the following:

(a) a determination to be made about whether a complaint can be resolved by mediation or other informal means or whether it warrants the holding of an inquiry;

(b) the persons who may attempt to mediate or otherwise resolve the complaint;

(c) the recording of the manner in which the complaint was resolved and of the agreement of the complainant and the registrant to the resolution;

(d) the steps to be taken (including notice to the complainant, the registrant and the preliminary proceedings committee that referred the complaint for resolution by mediation or other informal means) if the complaint cannot, in the opinion of the person attempting to do so, be resolved by mediation or other informal means;

(e) any other matters that the Council considers necessary or appropriate for facilitating the resolution of a complaint by mediation or other informal means.

(3) No attempt may be made to resolve a complaint by mediation or other informal means without the consent of the complainant and the registrant against whom the complaint was made.

(4) A consent given by a registrant for the purpose of this section is not to be taken as an admission of any allegation made by the complainant against the registrant.

(5) No answer or statement made, in the course of attempting to resolve a complaint pursuant to the guidelines, by the complainant or by the registrant may—

(a) be communicated to any person other than the persons participating in the attempt to resolve the complaint, or

(b) be used in any disciplinary, civil or criminal proceedings.

(6) The Council may revise any guidelines developed under this section or may withdraw those guidelines and develop new guidelines.

56.—(1) If a preliminary proceedings committee is of the opinion that there is sufficient cause to warrant further action being taken in relation to a complaint or if the Council decides that such action is necessary, the preliminary proceedings committee shall either—

(a) refer the complaint for resolution by mediation or other informal means, but only if it determines in accordance with the guidelines under section 55 that the complaint is one that could be so resolved, or

(b) refer the complaint to whichever of the following committees of inquiry it considers appropriate:

(i) a professional conduct committee;

(ii) a health committee.

(2) On being informed pursuant to the guidelines under section 55 that a complaint referred for resolution by mediation or other informal means cannot be so resolved (whether because of the failure of the parties to consent to any attempt to resolve the complaint or for any other reason), a preliminary proceedings committee shall refer the complaint to a committee of inquiry.

57.—(1) As soon as practicable after a complaint is referred under section 56(1)(b) or (2) to a committee of inquiry, the registrar shall notify the registrant to whom the complaint relates of the following:

(a) the referral of the complaint to a committee of inquiry and the name of the committee;

(b) the nature of the matter that is to be the subject of the inquiry, including the particulars of any evidence in support of the complaint;

(c) the opportunity of the registrant, or his or her representative, to be present and to defend the registrant at the hearing.

(2) Not later than 30 days before the date of the hearing before the committee of inquiry, the registrar shall notify the registrant of the date, time and place of the hearing.

58.—(1) A committee of inquiry shall, subject to subsection (6) and sections 61 and 62, hear a complaint referred to it under section 56(1)(b) or (2).

(2) A hearing before a professional conduct committee must be held in public, unless—

(a) the registrant or the complainant requests the committee to hold all or part of the hearing otherwise than in public, and

(b) the committee is satisfied that it would be appropriate in the circumstances to hold the hearing or part of the hearing otherwise than in public.

(3) A hearing before a health committee shall be held otherwise than in public, unless—

(a) the registrant or the complainant requests that all or part of the hearing be held in public, and

(b) the committee is satisfied that it would be appropriate in the circumstances to hold the hearing or part of the hearing in public.

(4) At the hearing before the committee of inquiry—

(a) the registrar, or any other person with leave of the committee, shall present the evidence in support of the complaint,

(b) the testimony of witnesses attending the hearing shall be given on oath, and

(c) there shall be a full right to cross-examine witnesses and call evidence in defence and reply.

(5) Any member of a committee of inquiry may administer oaths required for the purposes of an inquiry.

(6) A committee to which a complaint is referred under section 56(1)(b) or (2) may transfer the complaint to another committee of inquiry before or after hearing any evidence relating to the complaint, but only if it is satisfied that—

(a) in view of the nature of the complaint, it is appropriate to do so, and

(b) the legal rights of the registrant will not be prejudiced by doing so.

(7) A committee of inquiry to which a complaint is transferred under subsection (6) shall, subject to sections 61 and 62, hear the complaint and, for that purpose—

(a) may receive in evidence a transcript or part of a transcript of evidence taken before the committee that transferred the complaint and draw any conclusions of fact from the evidence that it considers appropriate, or

(b) if satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of fair procedures to do so, may rehear any evidence taken before the committee that transferred the complaint.

59.—(1) For the purposes of an inquiry under this Part, a committee of inquiry has all the powers, rights and privileges that are vested in the Court or a judge of the Court on the occasion of an action and that relate to—

(a) enforcing the attendance of witnesses,

(b) examining witnesses on oath or otherwise, and

(c) compelling the production of records.

(2) A summons issued by the chairperson of a committee of inquiry or by such other member of that committee as may be authorised by it for the purpose of the inquiry may be substituted for and is the equivalent of any formal process capable of being issued in an action for enforcing the attendance of witnesses and compelling the production of records.

(3) Subsection (2) is not to be taken to limit the generality of subsection (1).

(4) Subject to any rules in force under section 22 and to the necessity of observing fair procedures, a committee of inquiry may receive evidence given—

(a) orally before the committee,

(b) by affidavit, or

(c) as otherwise allowed by those rules, including by means of a live-video link, a video recording, a sound recording or any other mode of transmission.

(5) A witness before a committee of inquiry is entitled to the same immunities and privileges as a witness before the Court.

(6) A person is guilty of an offence if he or she—

(a) having been duly summoned to attend before a committee of inquiry fails without reasonable excuse to attend at the time and place indicated on the summons,

(b) while attending as a witness before a committee of inquiry refuses to—

(i) take an oath lawfully required by the committee to be taken,

(ii) produce any record in the person's power or control that he or she is lawfully required by the committee to produce, or

(iii) answer any question that he or she is lawfully required by the committee to answer,

or

(c) while attending before a committee of inquiry does anything that, if the committee were a court of law having power to punish for contempt, would be contempt of court.

F101[(7) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a class A fine.]

(8) If a person fails to comply with a summons to attend before a committee of inquiry or refuses, while attending as a witness before a committee of inquiry, to do any thing referred to in subsection (6)(b) that he or she is lawfully required by the committee to do, the Court, on application by the Council, may—

(a) by order require the person to attend before the committee or to do the thing that he or she refused to do, as the case may be, and

(b) make such interim or interlocutory orders as it considers necessary for that purpose.

(9) Neither an application for an order under subsection (8) nor the making of such order precludes proceedings being brought for an offence under subsection (6)(a) or (b) in relation to a person on whose failure or refusal the application or order was based.

60.—(1) F102[The Council may make an ex parte application to the Court for an order directing a registration board to suspend the registration of a registrant, whether or not the registrant is the subject of a complaint, if the Council considers that the suspension is necessary to protect the public until steps or further steps are taken under this Part.

(2) An application under this section shall be heard otherwise than in public unless the Court considers it appropriate to hear the application in public.]

(3) After hearing the application, the Court may, in relation to the registrant—

(a) make any order it considers appropriate, including an order directing the registration board concerned to suspend his or her registration for a period specified in the order, and

(b) give to the Council or the registration board concerned any direction that the Court considers appropriate.

F103[(4) (a) Paragraph (b) applies where—

(i) a registrant becomes the subject of an order under subsection (3)(a), and

(ii) the Council has reason to believe that—

(I) the registrant is registered in another jurisdiction in a designated profession or has made an application to be registered in a designated profession in another jurisdiction which has not yet been determined, and

(II) that order may not have come to the attention of the body duly authorised to perform functions in that jurisdiction that correspond to the functions of the Council.

(b) The Council shall give notice in writing to that body of that order and may, notwithstanding any provision of Directive 2005/36/EC or of the Professional Qualifications Regulations, provide that body with a copy of that order and copies of other documents relevant to that order.]

61.—(1) A committee of inquiry may, at any time after a complaint is referred to it, request the registrant concerned to do one or more of the following:

(a) undertake to not repeat the conduct to which the complaint relates;

(b) undertake to take such educational courses, training or other means of improving the registrant's competence to practise as may be specified by the registration board concerned;

(c) consent to undergo medical treatment;

(d) consent to being admonished or censured by the Council.

(2) If a registrant refuses to give an undertaking or consent requested under this section, the committee of inquiry may proceed as if the request had not been made.

62.—If a complaint is withdrawn while it is being considered by a preliminary proceedings committee or a committee of inquiry, the committee considering the complaint may, with the Council's agreement—

(a) decide that no further action is to be taken in relation to the matter raised by the complaint, or

(b) proceed as if the complaint had not been withdrawn.

63.—(1) On completing an inquiry into a complaint, a committee of inquiry shall make a written report on its findings to the Council.

(2) The report of the committee of inquiry must specify the following:

(a) the nature of the complaint that resulted in the inquiry;

(b) the evidence presented to the committee;

(c) the committee's findings as to whether any allegation made by a complainant against the registrant is substantiated.

(3) In addition to the matters specified under subsection (2), the report of the committee of inquiry may include such other matters relating to the registrant as the committee considers appropriate.

F104[64. On receiving the report of a committee of inquiry concerning a complaint against a registrant, the Council shall do one of the following:

(a) if the committee finds that no allegation made by the complainant is substantiated, dismiss the complaint;

(b) if the committee finds that any allegation made by the complainant against the registrant is substantiated, perform its functions under section 66 in relation to the complaint as soon as practicable.]

65.—F105[…]

F106[66.—(1) Subject to section 53(1A), if a committee of inquiry finds that an allegation made by a complainant against a registrant is substantiated, the Council shall, after considering the committee’s report, direct the board to impose on the registrant, as specified in the direction, one or more than one of the following disciplinary sanctions:

(a) an admonishment or a censure;

(b) the attachment of conditions to his or her registration, including restrictions on the practice of the designated profession by the registrant;

(c) the suspension of his or her registration for a specified period;

(d) the cancellation of his or her registration;

(e) a prohibition from applying for a specified period for restoration to the register.

(2) However, the Council may not direct a registration board to cancel the registration of a registrant on the grounds of a conviction for an offence referred to in section 52(1)(g) unless—

(a) in the Council’s opinion, the nature of the offence or the circumstances in which it was committed ought to disqualify the registrant from practising the designated profession, or

(b) a conviction for such offence would render a person ineligible for registration as a registrant of the designated profession.

(3) On giving a direction to a registration board to impose on a registrant a disciplinary sanction referred to in subsection (1)(b), (c) or (e), the Council shall specify in the direction—

(a) in the case of a disciplinary sanction referred to in subsection (1)(b), the nature of the conditions to be attached to his or her registration,

(b) in the case of a disciplinary sanction referred to in subsection (1)(c), the period of suspension of his or her registration, and

(c) in the case of a disciplinary sanction referred to in subsection (1)(e), the period for which he or she is prohibited from applying for restoration to the register.]

67.—(1) As soon as practicable after directing a registration board under section 66 to impose a disciplinary sanction on a registrant, the Council shall notify the registrant and the complainant of the following:

(a) the nature of the disciplinary sanction that the board has been directed to impose;

(b) the date on which the direction was given;

(c) the reasons for the imposition of the sanction.

F107[(2) If the registration board was directed to impose a disciplinary sanction, the notification under subsection (1) must also specify—

(a) the time allowed to the registrant for bringing an application to the Court for cancellation of the direction, and

(b) in the case of a disciplinary sanction other than an admonishment or a censure, the time allowed to the Council for bringing an application to the Court for confirmation of the direction.]

68.—F108[(1)] A direction under section 66 to impose a disciplinary sanction (F109[not being] an admonishment or a censure) on a registrant does not take effect unless the direction is confirmed by the Court on application under section 69 or 70.

F108[(2) A direction under section 66 to impose a disciplinary sanction (being an admonishment or a censure) on the registrant does not take effect unless—

(a) the direction is confirmed by the Court on application under section 69, or

(b) the 30 days referred to in section 69(2) within which the registrant may apply to the Court for an order cancelling the direction expires without the registrant making such application.]

69.—(1) A registrant affected by a direction to impose a disciplinary sanction F110[…] may apply to the Court for an order cancelling the direction.

(2) An application for an order under this section must be made within 30 days after the registrant receives from the Council notification of the direction.

(3) At the hearing of the application, the Court may consider any evidence adduced or argument made, whether or not adduced or made to a committee of inquiry.

(4) After hearing the application, the Court may—

(a) make any order that it considers appropriate, including an order cancelling, confirming or modifying the F111[direction,]

(b) give to the Council or the registration board concerned any direction that the Court considers F111[appropriate, and]

F112[(c) direct how the costs of the application are to be borne.]

70.—(1) If a registrant does not, within the time allowed under section 69(2), apply to the Court for an order cancelling a direction by the Council to impose a disciplinary sanction (F113[not being] an admonishment or a censure) on the registrant, the Council shall apply to the Court for an order confirming the direction.

(2) An application for an order under this section must be made within 60 days after the registrant receives from the Council notification of the direction.

(3) After hearing the application, the Court shall, by order, confirm the Council's direction relating to the registrant, unless the Court sees good reason not to do so F114[and direct how the costs of the application are to be borne].

71.—(1) At the hearing of an application under section 69 or 70, the Court may admit and have regard to evidence of any person of good standing in the designated profession concerned as to what constitutes poor professional performance or professional misconduct in relation to the practice of that profession.

(2) The decision of the High Court on an application under section 69 or 70 is final except that, by leave of that Court or the Supreme Court, the Council or the person to whom the decision of the High Court relates may appeal against that decision to the Supreme Court on a specified question of law.

72.—(1) On complying with a direction confirmed or given by the Court to attach conditions to a registration, the registration board concerned shall notify the registrant of the conditions.

(2) On complying with a direction confirmed or given by the Court to suspend for a specified period or to cancel a registration, the registration board concerned shall notify the registrant of—

(a) the suspension or cancellation, as the case may be, and

(b) in the case of a suspension, the period, beginning not earlier than 7 days after the date of the Court's decision, during which the registration is to be suspended.

73.—(1) The name of any person whose registration has been cancelled under this Part may not be restored to a register except in accordance with this section.

(2) The Council may at any time direct a registration board to restore to its register the name of any person whose registration has been cancelled under this Part if—

(a) the person has requested the Council to make the direction and has paid the fee required at the time of the request for restoration,

(b) the person is not prohibited under this Part from applying for restoration to the register,

(c) the person has been given an opportunity to make an oral or written submission to the Council,

(d) the Council has considered any submission made under paragraph (c) and the criteria established by bye-law for restoration to the register, and

(e) after consulting the registration board, the Council considers it appropriate to make the direction.

(3) On directing a registration board to restore a person's name to its register, the Council may also direct the board to attach to the registration any conditions that, after consulting the board, the Council considers appropriate.

(4) On complying with a direction to restore a person's name to its register or to attach conditions to a registration, the registration board concerned shall notify the registrant of the restoration and, if applicable, of the attachment of the conditions.

(5) On deciding to refuse to direct a registration board to restore a person's name to its register, the Council shall, as soon as practicable, notify the person of—

(a) the decision,

(b) the date on which it was made,

(c) the reasons for the decision, and

(d) the time allowed under section 75 for bringing an appeal to the Court for cancellation of the decision.

74.—(1) The Council may at any time direct a registration board to remove all or any conditions attached under this Part to a registration if—

(a) the registrant has requested the Council to make the direction,

(b) the registrant has been given an opportunity to make an oral or written submission to the Council,

(c) the Council has considered any submission made under paragraph (b) and any other relevant information that has come to its attention, and

(d) after consulting the registration board, the Council considers it appropriate to make the direction.

(2) On complying with a direction to remove any or all conditions attached under this Part to a registration, the registration board concerned shall notify the registrant of their removal.

(3) On deciding to refuse to direct a registration board to remove any condition attached under this Part to a registration, the Council shall, as soon as practicable, notify the registrant of—

(a) the decision,

(b) the date on which it was made,

(c) the reasons for the decision, and

(d) the time allowed under section 75 for bringing an appeal to the Court for cancellation of the decision.

75.—(1) A person may appeal to the Court against a decision made by the Council—

(a) under section 73 refusing to direct a registration board to restore the person's name to its register or directing a registration board to attach conditions to his or her registration, or

(b) under section 74 refusing to direct a registration board to remove a condition attached under this Part to his or her registration.

(2) The appeal must be brought within 30 days after the person receives from the Council notification of the decision.

(3) In an appeal under this section, the Court may consider any evidence adduced or argument made, whether or not adduced or made to the Council.

(4) On the hearing of the appeal, the Court may—

(a) make any order that it considers appropriate, including an order cancelling, confirming or modifying the decision, and

(b) give to the Council or the registration board concerned any direction that the Court considers appropriate.

(5) On complying with any direction given by the Court, the registration board concerned shall notify the person who brought the appeal of the board's compliance with the direction.

76.—(1) The Council shall F115[notify the Health Service Executive and such other persons as the Council thinks fit] as soon as practicable after any of the following measures take effect under this Part:

(a) the cancellation of a person's registration;

(b) the restoration of a person's name to a register;

(c) the suspension of a person's registration;

(d) the termination of the period during which a person's registration is suspended;

(e) the attachment of conditions to a person's registration;

(f) the removal of conditions attached under this Part to a person's registration;

(g) the prohibiting of a person from applying for a specified period for restoration to the register;

(h) the admonishment or censuring of a person.

(2) If it comes to the Council's attention that, under the law of a state other than the State, an action corresponding to one referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (h) of subsection (1) has been taken in relation to a registrant, the Council shall F115[, if satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so, notify the Health Service Executive] of the matter.

(3) The Council shall F116[(if satisfied that, in the case of an action referred to in subsection (2), it is in the public interest to do so)] notify an employer if—

(a) it comes to the Council's attention that any action referred to in subsection (1) or (2) has been taken in relation to a registrant employed by the employer, and