{"id":5061,"date":"2018-12-22T19:16:46","date_gmt":"2018-12-22T19:16:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/regulated-professions\/"},"modified":"2023-09-16T19:11:47","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T19:11:47","slug":"regulated-professions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/regulated-professions\/","title":{"rendered":"Regulated Professions Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/regulated-professions\/#Statutory_Regulation\" title=\"Statutory Regulation\">Statutory Regulation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/regulated-professions\/#Admission\" title=\"Admission\">Admission<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/regulated-professions\/#Practising_Licensing_and_Renewal\" title=\"Practising Licensing and Renewal\">Practising Licensing and Renewal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/regulated-professions\/#Standards_and_Discipline\" title=\"Standards and Discipline\">Standards and Discipline<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/regulated-professions\/#Criticisms_and_Reform\" title=\"Criticisms and Reform\">Criticisms and Reform<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Statutory_Regulation\"><\/span>Statutory Regulation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A number of professions are regulated by bodies set up under legislation.\u00a0 In some other cases, particular private bodies effectively regulate the professions on the basis of the private rules of their particular association.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of legislative\u00a0regulation, there is generally a monopoly for members of the statutory body or association.\u00a0 It is unlawful to practice the particular professional or occupation without being a member and having the designated qualifications.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of non-statutory bodies it is not unlawful otherwise to undertake the relevant businesses, but in practice,\u00a0many such bodies are recognised as regulating and\u00a0maintaining standards in their\u00a0particular field so that membership is a pre-requisite to practise in the area.<\/p>\n<p>Professions are generally governed by a governing council elected by the members.\u00a0 There is usually a full-time chief executive and associated staff who maintain and regulate the profession.<\/p>\n<p>Typically the association or body is financed by members of the profession. An annual fee or levy is payable.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Admission\"><\/span>Admission<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The relevant rules usually set out the conditions for application and admission.\u00a0 Generally, there is both a relevant qualification and training or other vocational experience is required.\u00a0Evidence of good character is often required.<\/p>\n<p>It is an offence to practise a statutory profession without being registered and being licensed to practise. \u00a0Persons may be prosecuted for undertaking the profession without the requisite licence<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Membership of the profession is generally be a precondition for entitlement to use to a particular title.<\/p>\n<p>In most cases,\u00a0admission depends on both academic qualifications and vocational training. Legislation or associations rules lay down requirements for entry on the register.<\/p>\n<p>Registers of\u00a0members are kept. They are usually made public. \u00a0Registrations of additional qualifications an specialisations may be undertaken.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practising_Licensing_and_Renewal\"><\/span>Practising Licensing and Renewal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There is usually a distinction between bare membership of the body and the continuing licence to practise. There may be registration of members as such and registration of practising members.\u00a0Both are required in order to practise. A person may remain a member but cease to practise for a period, subject to insurance obligations in some cases.<\/p>\n<p>Registration is often required to be renewed annually.\u00a0 It is usually a condition of registration that the person is of continued good standing. Renewal fees\u00a0are payable.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of some professions, minimum public liability insurance is required. Cessation of practise\u00a0may require run off cover.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0 bodies regulate in the public\u00a0 interest,\u00a0 the standards, skills and competence of thier members.I n recent years many professional bodies have instituted continuing professional development requirements.\u00a0 This requires a certain amount of formal and informal training in each year as a condition of ongoing membership.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Standards_and_Discipline\"><\/span>Standards and Discipline<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many professional organisations publish codes of conduct or ethical standards.\u00a0 Breach of the codes and standards or conduct bringing the profession into disrepute lead to disciplinary procedures.<\/p>\n<p>The system may allow for an investigation of complaints as to service.\u00a0 It may be founded on complaints by members of the public or by investigations initiated by the body itself.\u00a0In some instances, there is an ombudsman scheme designed to pay compensation for poor service or failure to meet reasonable standards<\/p>\n<p>Irrespective of whether the organisation is constituted by Statute law or by private organisation the rules of natural justice must be followed in relation to disciplinary and conduct matters.\u00a0 See our administrative law guide.<\/p>\n<p>Generally, disciplinary matters are dealt with by a group within the association.\u00a0 It may consist of members of the profession and members of the public or a mix. \u00a0The sanctions may run from censorship to fines, suspension or striking off from membership<\/p>\n<p>Cases may also be referred to Court to confirm the strike off or ther serios sanctions.THis si becasue the imposition of very seriosu sanction requires a judiical decision.<\/p>\n<p>Because disciplinary matters and the possible sanctions bear upon a person\u2019s reputation and ability to earn a livelihood the Courts may review the standards of procedures applied.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Criticisms_and_Reform\"><\/span>Criticisms and Reform<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In some areas, there has been criticism of the self regulatory aspects of professions.\u00a0 More modern legislation has allowed for greater\u00a0representation of members of the public or persons interested in the particular service to be represented in disciplinary and other matters.<\/p>\n<p>There has been criticism of the dual representational and disciplinary \/ enforcement role of certain professional regulators or associations. In some cases, modern legislation has seprate the regulatory are representational roles<\/p>\n<p>There is a tension between the maintenance of standards and the control and admission of new members. \u00a0Generally, professional bodies do not have a role in restricting numbers.\u00a0 The Competition Authority has been highly critical of the restriction of numbers in some cases,\u00a0 as a\u00a0potentially serious breach of competition legislation.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-5061\" data-postid=\"5061\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-5061 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Statutory Regulation A number of professions are regulated by bodies set up under legislation.\u00a0 In some other cases, particular private bodies effectively regulate the professions on the basis of the private rules of their particular association. In the case of legislative\u00a0regulation, there is generally a monopoly for members of the statutory body or association.\u00a0 It [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[365],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5061"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5061"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5061\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26803,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5061\/revisions\/26803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}