Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 December 2012
506. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if it is his intention to fill the two seats on the Health and Social Care Professionals Board; if so, if he will outline the process that is being undertaken to fill these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55384/12]
View answerThe Health and Social Care Professionals Council, established in 2007, and the 12 registration boards being established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (the Act), will be responsible for protecting the public by regulating health and social care professionals in Ireland. The object of the Council is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among the registrants of the 12 health and social care professions designated under the Act.
Under the Act, membership of the Council consists of a Chairperson, who is not eligible to be a registrant, and 24 ordinary members, 12 each from a professional and lay background.
Expressions of interest in being appointed by me to two lay vacancies on the Council have been invited on my Department's website and by the Public Appointments Service. The appointees will represent the views of the general public and will be appointed with the consent of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
I hope to be in a position to fill these vacancies shortly.
