Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 30th October, 2015.

I, LEO VARADKAR, Minister for Health, consider, in view of the increase in the number of designated professions, that it is necessary and expedient, and in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 4 (7) of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (No. 27 of 2005) (as adapted by the Health and Children (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011 ( S.I. No. 219 of 2011 )), hereby make the following regulations with respect to which, pursuant to section 4(8) of that Act, a draft has been laid before each House of the Oireachtas and a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each such House:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Section 4(7)) (Membership of Council) Regulations 2015.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on 31 October 2015.

2. For the purposes of appointments to the Council under section 9 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (No. 27 of 2005)-

(a) the total number of persons to be appointed under section 9(3)(b) shall be varied to 11, and

(b) the number of them to be appointed to represent the interest of the general public under section 9(3)(b)(iv) shall be varied to 8.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

28 October 2015.

LEO VARADKAR,

Minister for Health.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

The purpose of these regulations is to increase from 6 to 8 the number of persons to be representative of the interests of the general public that are to be appointed by the Minister for Health to the Health and Social Care Professional Council.