The Medical Council has launched a public consultation on proposed registration (amendment) rules which are required to support the commencement of the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Acts 2020 and 2023, next year. 

These Acts introduce significant changes to the registration system and require the existing framework to be updated.

Executive Director for registration operations with the Medical Council, Ms Trudy Reid, said “With over 35,000 doctors on the Medical Councils’ register, this public consultation plays an important part in implementing recent legislative changes.”

“These changes which will enhance the way we register doctors, consolidate exiting rules and ultimately support us in contributing to patient safety and public protection.”

She added that this consultation provides an opportunity for doctors, members of the public, individuals and organisations to share their thoughts on these changes.

“I would encourage anyone with an interest in this proposal to take part in consultation.”

The draft rules will be subject to a public consultation and a proportionality assessment before being considered by the Medical Council and progressing through the legislative process.

According to the Medical Council the proposed rules include five key changes:

1. Consolidation of existing Rules: Seven sets of registration rules will be combined into a single set of registration rules. Professional indemnity rules will remain unchanged.

2. Register of Interns: Interns will no longer be registered in the trainee specialist division, and a separate Register of Interns will now be established. 

3. Recognition of qualifications before registration: Applicants will need to have their medical degree formally recognised before applying for registration.

4. Register of Adapters: A new register of adapters will be established primarily for certain EU/EEA citizens undertaking compensatory measures, including adaptation periods.

5. English language requirements: All first-time applicants will be required to meet English language requirements.

The public consultation is open from 3rd September to 6th October.

There are increasing workload pressures on the “growing and diversifying” medical workforce, according to the newly published Medical Workforce Intelligence Report 2025.

The Medical Council’s report found that in 2025, there were 22,257 clinically active doctors practising medicine in Ireland. The proportion of clinically active female doctors rose to 47.6 per cent, representing a slight but steady increase in recent years.

The mean age of doctors was 43.6 years, with approximately one in five (20.1 per cent) aged 55 or older and approaching typical retirement age. The gender split was almost even across all age groups except the 55 or older cohort, where 66 per cent were male.

There were 5,017 doctors self-reporting as GPs, an increase of 5.3 per cent compared to the previous year. Some 78.9 per cent of GPs were on the specialist division, and 19.3 were per cent on the general division.

Some 22.1 per cent of doctors self-reported working more than 48 hours a week on average, a slight improvement on 2024.

In relation to services provided, the report found “persistent barriers to safe patient care”.

Only one-third of doctors (30.7 per cent) reported never experiencing difficulties providing patients with sufficient levels of care. More than one-quarter (27.6 per cent) experienced such difficulties at least once a week or more often.

In response to the report, the IHCA noted that one in 12 doctors (9 per cent) told the Council that they experience difficulties providing patients with sufficient care at least once a day.

“It is not surprising to learn that [so many] doctors report experiencing difficulties at least once a day providing a patient with the sufficient level of care needed. This is the lived experience of so many of my specialist colleagues,” said IHCA President Prof Gabrielle Colleran.

“While ‘pressure on workloads’ was the single most frequently quoted barrier, the fact that ‘time spent on bureaucracy/administration’ was a close second highlights yet again the need to accelerate the roll-out of electronic health records across the health system as a matter of urgency. The current fragmented nature of our digital technology in the health service continues to impact directly on patient care, and the roll-out of the national [electronic health record] cannot come soon enough.”

Prof Colleran said the IHCA is particularly concerned with the finding that 41 per cent of all doctors who report working more than 48 hours on average per week are spending more than 48 hours in direct patient care.

“This means these doctors are not only working excessive hours, but are doing so in intensely pressurised conditions, and are not being given adequate time by their employer to keep up with the necessary administrative tasks that are required to make the job both sustainable and safe for patients.”

Also commenting on the report, Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, Medical Director, Medical Protection, said: “It is encouraging to see continued growth in Ireland’s medical workforce and increasing numbers of GPs. However, it is concerning that so many doctors continue to report barriers to providing patients with a sufficient level of care, with workload pressure, bureaucracy, and overcrowding continuing to have an impact on healthcare professionals.”

 “These findings highlight the need for continued action to reduce these barriers, improve workforce retention, and ensure doctors have the time and resources they need to deliver safe, high-quality care.”

Dr Bradshaw also pointed out the report highlights Ireland’s growing reliance on international medical graduates.

“As this trend continues, it is essential that international medical graduates receive comprehensive induction and ongoing professional support throughout their careers. Ensuring doctors are well supported to navigate a new healthcare system is not only important for their wellbeing and career development, but also for patient safety and the long-term sustainability of the workforce.”

The IMO has called claims that consultants are not working enough weekend shifts in public hospitals a “fallacy”. In a statement today, the Organisation also highlighted what it called the “sustained shortfall” in doctors in the health system.

“The reality of this situation is that every weekend, consultants up and down the country are working on call, carrying out ward rounds, reviewing and discharging patients, and responding to emergencies,” said Prof Mick Molloy, Chair of the Consultants’ Committee of the IMO.

“This is in addition to working their core hours on a Monday to Friday. This work is critical to the functioning of our hospitals but is often absent from discussions about consultant availability and weekend working.”

The IMO said it was responding to media reports of a HSE briefing to Minister to Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, suggesting consultant weekend work in three regions of the country was still too low.

“Rostering consultants for core hours on a Saturday means that they must take another day off during the week or this additional work day to be classed as overtime which is not financially effective in the current constraints,” continued Prof Molloy.

“In order for weekend core hour rostering and extended day core hour rostering to be effective, a whole of hospital approach is required. Using a consultant’s core hours for an out patient clinic on a Saturday, rather than inpatient work on a Monday, is a poor use of resources.”

He noted that the Department of Health has stated that Ireland needs to have 110 consultants per 100,000 population. In terms of whole-time equivalents, Ireland is currently at 87.6 per 100,000, he added.

“In a situation where a consultant can have a full team, services and infrastructure available on a Monday, but not on a Saturday, it does not make sense to roster the consultant on a Saturday as there is less productivity. This is why hospitals are in some cases slower to roster consultants on a Saturday. The public-only consultants’ contract allows such rostering but there is no recognition of the additional staff required to make a comprehensive six-day health service a practical reality.”

He added: “The IMO supports any move that will facilitate better and more accessible care for patients throughout the week, but it is a fallacy to think this can happen without firstly having the correct numbers of consultant and healthcare staffing in place.”

‘Career opportunities’ was the most common reason cited by health staff who voluntarily left their position earlier this year, according to a new report.

The Health Sector Workforce Turnover Report stated the turnover rate across all HSE staff categories in the first quarter of 2026 was 1.8 per cent. This remains unchanged compared to the same period last year.

Overall, the initial 2026 data is consistent with the downward trend that has occurred since the first quarter of 2022, when the turnover rate was 2.4 per cent.

Specific figures for consultants show a turnover rate of 2.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year. This represents a slight increase of 0.2 percentage points compared with the same period of last year. By comparison, the turnover rate reached 2.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2022.

Of the 2.6 per cent turnover rate among consultants, 0.6 per cent represented external movement (ie, leaving the HSE).  A further 0.6 per cent represented internal movement within the HSE, while the destination of the remaining 1.4 per cent was not disclosed.

Overall, the report indicated a return to pre-2020 turnover rates, while noting the impact of recruitment measures implemented across services over the past year.

Of all health staff departures, 27 per cent were attributed to ‘retirement’, 10 per cent were ‘involuntary’, and 63 per cent were ‘voluntary’.

Of all those who voluntarily departed, either to leave the health service, or to move to another position within the HSE, ‘career opportunities’ was the most commonly cited reason, accounting for 37 per cent of departures.

It was followed by ‘personal’ reasons at 25 per cent and ‘job satisfaction’ at 21 per cent. ‘Emigration’ accounted for 6 per cent.

Of the staff who voluntarily left the public health service, 37 per cent said the decision was taken for ‘personal’ reasons.  This may include work/life balance, family or caring reasons, according to the report.  The next most common factor was ‘career opportunities’ at 27 per cent, while ‘job satisfaction’ and ‘emigration’ each accounted for 15 per cent.

Of those who voluntarily moved somewhere else within the public health system, ‘career opportunities’ (51 per cent) and ‘job satisfaction’ (30 per cent) were the primary factors by a significant margin.

This type of turnover data provides “valuable information” on workforce movements within the HSE and section 38 sector, a HSE spokesperson told Medical Independent.

“Accurate turnover data helps ensure that the health service can plan for future workforce needs and maintain safe, effective health and social care services.”

*See news feature for more. https://www.medicalindependent.ie/in-the-news/news-features/why-do-staff-leave-the-health-service/

The IMO has said it is “unrealistic and unhelpful” to assume weekend rostering for consultants in hospitals can be introduced in an “effective manner” without all other hospital staff being rostered in the same way.

The Organisation was responding to an HSE internal audit on the implementation of the public-only consultant contract (POCC).

The audit stated there was inadequate oversight of increased rostering of consultants at weekends and evenings.

According to RTÉ, the audit found the contract did not have a significant impact on the number of consultants available to work weekends or evenings. Of the 2,954 consultants on the POCC in February 2025, 80 per cent were rostered Monday to Friday, 12 per cent on weekday evenings, 11 per cent on Saturday daytime and 56 per cent were on call on a Saturday.

The IMO said it “welcomed” the fact that the audit “dispelled the myth that consultants don’t work on weekends”, as it showed over half (56 per cent) work on call on a Saturday.  

Prof Matthew Sadlier, President of the IMO and Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry, said that it made “little sense” for consultants to be rostered on weekends in isolation. “We welcome the fact that this audit shows consultants regularly work on-call at weekends, so working weekends in and of itself is not a problem.”

“However, it is unrealistic and unhelpful to assume this can happen effectively without all other staff in a hospital being rostered in a similar manner so consultants can practice safely with a full team present.”

He said that moving to weekend rostering must include an assessment on how this will affect mid-week services and continuity of care.

“While the POCC has been successful in attracting new consultants to posts that previously could not be filled, we are still critically below OECD averages for numbers of consultants per head of population and have no safe staffing framework in an environment of rising demand,” he said.

“In this context, it makes little sense to introduce weekend rostering if it detracts from mid-week services. If the right resources were available, this could be easily introduced but unfortunately, we are not at that stage yet.”

Prof Sadlier noted that consultants were rostered on a work plan agreed with management, and that while more consultants were now working on weekend discharges, a whole-of-hospital approach was needed to extend this to elective services.

There was an increase in the number of positions processed by the consultant applications advisory committee (CAAC) last year compared to 2024, according to the CAAC’s 2025 annual report.

The HSE National Doctors Training and Planning ‘consultants’ division’, which is the secretariat to the CAAC, processed a total of 400 applications in 2025.

These applications include new post applications, requests to restructure existing approved consultant posts, direct replacement applications, and change of contract type requests.

The volume of applications processed increased by 53 applications, or 15 per cent, compared to 2024.

Of the 400 applications, 275 were considered by the CAAC, which was an increase from 225 in 2024.

The remaining 125 applications were direct replacement requests and were processed directly by the consultants’ division.

Of the 275 applications considered by the CAAC, 272 applications were recommended for approval, while three were deferred for further consideration.

The posts recommended for approval by the CAAC included 92 in general medicine, 42 in surgery, 31 in psychiatry, 30 in radiology, 23 in emergency medicine, 21 in pathology, and 17 in anaesthesiology.

The 125 direct replacement post approvals processed directly by the consultants’ division included 33 in psychiatry, 28 in general medicine, 15 in surgery, 10 in pathology, and 10 in obstetrics and gynaecology.

This year’s report highlighted the “significant evolution” of the CAAC’s work since the introduction of the public-only consultant contract (POCC).

The report states that following the introduction of the POCC in 2023, applications in respect of replacement consultant posts are no longer required to be presented to CAAC.

However, posts requiring restructuring from original approval still require committee approval.

“This procedural change represents a significant evolution in the committee’s workload and oversight responsibilities,” according to the report.

As a result, the CAAC’s role regarding replacement posts has shifted from high-volume, administrative scrutiny toward a more “targeted and strategic oversight” function.

“The committee’s focus is now concentrated on posts that involve restructuring, service redesign, or material deviation from original approval – areas where its evaluative and governance expertise adds greatest value,” according to the report.

“This enables deeper consideration of workforce alignment, service reform objectives, and compliance with national policy, rather than routine confirmation of established approvals.”

See news feature in the 5 May edition of the Medical Independent

The new IMO President has called for a major investment programme in new hospitals to address the “estimated shortfall of 5,000 hospital beds” in the country.

Professor Matthew Sadlier was speaking during his inaugural address at the organisations AGM, in Hotel Europe in Killarney, Co Kerry.

Professor Sadlier, who is a Consultant Psychiatrist, said that the shortage of hospital beds was “directly contributing” to the crisis with both waiting lists and hospital emergency departments.

Professor Sadlier also praised the contribution made by “international doctors and all our international colleagues” in healthcare and criticised recent incidents of verbal and even physical abuse against health service staff based on their race, religion or ethnicity.

“The Irish health services and the people of this country are utterly dependent on the contribution of international doctors, nurses and support staff”, he said.  “The thugs who shout obscenities and physically threaten these colleagues bring shame to this country and their behaviour must never be tolerated or accepted.”

Professor Sadlier also emphasised the importance of contract negotiations currently underway with NCHDs; “it was encouraging to hear Ann O’Connor’s (HSE CEO) words of respect for NCHDs earlier today [at the AGM on Saturday] but we have heard similarly warm words in the past without making the progress necessary”. 

“Many years ago, I was part of the team that launched legal proceedings against the HSE over the European Working Time Directive – now the Organisation of Working Time Act.  I am truly saddened that NCHD working hours are still above legal working limits which is not only about the employer breaking the law but also unsafe for patients and doctors.”

DateSaturday, April 18th 2026

Time08:30AM

LocationO’Reilly Hall UCD

CPD6 CPD Points

GMS1 Day GMS Study Leave

Nominations have closed for doctors seeking election to the Medical Council for the next term, which will commence in June 2026.

The Council, which consists of 25 members, has a majority of non-medical members, with 13 non-medical members and 12 medical members.

Of these, six members are elected by their fellow registered medical practitioners, five are appointed by the Minister for Health, one being nominated by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the remaining 13 are appointed by nominating bodies.

The current term of office of one of the directly elected members of the Medical Council is due to expire on 31 May 2026. This position, along with two existing vacancies on the Medical Council, are subject to an election process in accordance with the Medical Council’s election regulations.

The three members to be appointed following this election process must fall under the following categories:

• One medical practitioner registered or able to be registered in the Specialist Division in relation to anaesthesia
• One medical practitioner registered or able to be registered in the Specialist Division in relation to public health medicine
• One medical practitioner registered or able to be registered in the Specialist Division in relation to pathology or radiology

To be eligible for election a medical practitioner must be registered on the Specialist Division and practising medicine in the State (but excluding any visiting EEA practitioner) on the day preceding the last day for receiving nominations (13 January 2026) and must be in one in of three categories above.

Additionally, a registered medical practitioner must be nominated by 10 registered medical practitioners practising medicine in the State and meet the eligibility requirements set out in the election regulations

Following the close of the nominations period, the independent returning officer, Mr Fergus Gallagher, Dublin County Sheriff, has announced the candidates for election to the Medical Council.

“As the Returning Officer, I have reviewed the nominations received and have deemed the following candidates eligible for election in the following categories, in accordance with the Medical Practitioners Act 2007:

Specialist Division – Anaesthesia

Dr Brian Patrick Joseph O’Brien – Registration Number: 018422

Dr David Michael Honan – Registration Number: 013213

Dr Ehtesham Izhar Khan – Registration Number: 049848

Dr Georgina Flood – Registration Number: 321315

Dr Khalid Rasheed – Registration Number: 021642

Specialist Division – Public Health Medicine

Dr Mai Mannix, Registration Number: 011309

Dr Ina Mary Kelly, Registration Number: 011181

Mr Gallagher continued, “In the category of Specialist Division – Pathology or Radiology, one candidate has been nominated, Prof John Conor O’Keane, Registration Number: 008071, and as a result, this category will be filled in accordance with election regulations.”

All doctors who were on the Medical Council Register as at 12 noon on 23 January 2026 are eligible to vote. The voting opens today, 6 February, and closes at noon on 26 February 2026. All doctors are encouraged to make sure they have their say in the formation of the next Medical Council by voting.

Formal results will be declared after the election voting period concludes. 

Speaking today, Dr Maria O’Kane, CEO of the Medical Council, said: “The Medical Council plays a vital role in ensuring patient safety. Council members hold responsibility for making decisions and upholding principles that protect patients and support the highest standards of medical practice. This election provides a valuable opportunity for doctors to influence the future direction of the Medical Council by helping to select their representatives. I would urge all registered doctors to vote and have their say.

“We are fortunate to have a number of very strong candidates contesting the election, who have been nominated by their peers. This reflects the continued commitment within the profession to build on the progress achieved in recent years. I encourage all doctors to use their vote in the weeks ahead.”

To vote in the Medical Council Elections from 6 February 2026, all registered medical practitioners (as at 12 noon on 23 January 2026) will be entitled to vote electronically in the election. Further information is available on the Medical Council’s website.

A link will be sent by email to the email address recorded on their registration portal (by the cut-off date set out above).

The voting process is overseen by Mr Gallagher, the appointed independent returning officer. Results will be announced on 26 February 2026.

The newly appointed Council members will begin their term on 1 June 2026.

In its pre-Budget submission, the IMO has called for the establishment of a cross-departmental group to respond to the “chronic problem” of health inequality.

The Organisation said the establishment of a cross-departmental group was critically important to address the fact that people from deprived areas have “far worse” health outcomes that those from affluent areas.

It noted that over half the population who cannot afford private health insurance and rely on the public health system continue to “endure long waiting times to access hospital care”, while five per cent of the population report unmet medical need because of waiting lists.

Dr Anne Dee, IMO President and a public health consultant, said “a person’s health outcomes are based on a range of social and economic factors, with poverty one of the key contributors to poor health”.

“Health inequality is a chronic problem in Ireland, and requires an urgent and significant response from the Government to ensure that children have the best start in life and those in greatest need receive optimal public healthcare.”

She added that “successive governments have failed to sufficiently invest in both bed capacity and our medical workforce, resulting in year-round trolley and waiting list crises as we look to cater for a growing and ageing population with increasingly complex needs. The Government cannot continue to do the bare minimum when it comes to meeting that urgent demand.”

Other recommendations made by union, include a call for an increase in the number of new inpatient beds from 3,438 to 5,000, and the development and funding a comprehensive medical workforce plan with actions laid out to increase the number of consultants and training posts in line with workforce requirements.

The IMO also called for support for the reconstruction of the health service for the population of Gaza with dedicated funding. Dr Dee said the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has had a number of appalling effects, “not least the collapse of its healthcare system. The Government must set aside funding to help reconstruct that healthcare system.”

The Irish Society of Specialists in Public Health Medicine (ISSPHM) has called on the Taoiseach and Government to intensify efforts help alleviate the suffering of people in Gaza.

In a letter dated 7 August, ISSPHM Chair Dr Kenneth Beatty said public health doctors are “once again” urging the Taoiseach to “do more for the people of Gaza as a matter of grave urgency”.

Dr Beatty wrote that over “the last 22 months, we have watched helplessly as this catastrophic, man-made public health emergency has unfolded”.

“The civilian population in Gaza has been subject to military assault, bombings, repeated forced displacement, the destruction of housing, food and water supplies, and the relentless/repeated dismantling of healthcare services and infrastructure.”

He noted that there is evidence that starvation “is being used systematically as a weapon of war” by the state of Israel.

“The life-long public health impact of physical and psychological trauma, along with starvation particularly for the children who survive cannot be underestimated.”

Dr Beatty added that many healthcare workers in Gaza have been killed or injured in this conflict.

A total of 917 were killed in attacks as of May 2025, with 1406 injured, according to the World Health Organisation.

The ISSPHM said the Irish Government should use every diplomatic and political channel available to press for a permanent ceasefire and to ensure life-saving humanitarian aid can flow freely through established relief networks.

The letter also calls on the Government to advocate for “large-scale EU economic sanctions on the state of Israel”, as well as ceasing the issuing of licences “for the export of dual use goods to Israel”.

The Society states it is important to ensure “that procurement policies across all Government departments are aligned with human rights/International Court of Justice ruling perspectives.”

ISSPHM members have also been encouraged to send the letter to their local TDs on the issue.

The IMO has described the current situation in Gaza as “intolerable” and it requires “urgent international action”.

In a statement today, the Organisation noted that healthcare workers “are among those starving”, even while striving to treat the wounded and care for communities under “appalling” conditions.

“The health system in Gaza has collapsed,” the IMO said in its statement.  “Doctors are being forced to deliver care in conditions that defy belief. They are under constant threat, without adequate equipment, and often without electricity or clean water.”

Medical workers in Gaza have been injured or killed in the course of their work.

“The IMO expresses its deepest solidarity with healthcare workers in Gaza and their families and salutes their courage and commitment to their work.”

Noting that the UN has reported that the worst-case scenario of famine is now unfolding in Gaza, the IMO called for the “full and immediate” lifting of all barriers to humanitarian aid.

“Aid must be allowed to flow safely and freely through non-partisan and trusted international partners such as the UN. The deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid and targeting of aid sites is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and their protocols.”

In June the IMO President Dr Anne Dee wrote directly to the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, expressing “grave concern and fear” amid “mass starvation arising from a deliberate blockade of aid (by the State of Israel)”. In her letter, Dr Dee strongly criticised the actions of Israel.

“We are seeing blatant contraventions of international humanitarian law by the State of Israel, and I urge the Irish Government to do all in its power, nationally and through international organisations, to end this horror and to ensure that Israel honours its obligations under international law.”

She wrote that “we abhor the actions of Hamas and we call for the return of hostages and an immediate ceasefire. But what we are witnessing in Gaza at the moment is mass starvation arising from a deliberate blockade of aid through well-established partnerships, by the State of Israel.”