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Appointments to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council:
From Department of Health
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From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Following their nominations, The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly T.D., has appointed the following members to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council
Paul Hersee
Paul Hersee is a registered Dispensing Optician with the Optical Registration Board and is a partner with Specsavers Opticians based in Arklow. Paul has thirty-three years of experience in the optical industry having qualified as a Dispensing Optician in 1989. After qualification, Paul studied with the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) as a practical examiner in optical dispensing.
Paul carries out practice visits in which he assesses the progress of students studying as dispensing opticians and the suitability of the practice to provide the required training. He has advised on the dispensing modules for the dispensing course provided by Technical University Dublin. He has provided professional guidance on the European Standards that apply to the optical profession via his work with the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI).
Paul is currently involved in training of support staff within Specsavers Opticians in Ireland and the UK via Cert 4 and ABDO progression pathway. He is a past president of the Irish Association of Dispensing Opticians (IADO,) having been a member of the IADO Council and serving as Treasurer and Secretary for the Association in the past. Paul has also attained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Brunel University.
Paul was awarded a fellowship of The European Academy of Optometry and Optics in 2022. He represents the Irish Association of Dispensing Opticians at meetings of the European Council of Optometry and Optics.
Paul is nominated by the Optical Registration Board and appointed from the 6th March 2023 to the 10th of February 2025.
Noelle Reilly
As a motivated social care professional who is committed to ensuring that the highest standards are embedded in the social care sector, Noelle Reilly brings a passion and commitment to the implementation of professional regulation and statutory registration. Noelle is the social care professional practice coordinator in Southeast Technological University, Carlow Campus and is an active member of Social Care Ireland.
In her previous role as Training and Compliance Officer in a mainstream residential service, Noelle developed key understandings of the importance of regulation, strategy development, risk management and change management to both support practice and protect service users and care teams. Noelle brings this knowledge, insight and practical experience to the Social Care Workers Registration Board.
Noelle is nominated by the Social Care Workers Registration Board and appointed from the 27th March 2023 to the 30th June 2025.
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly T.D., with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, has reappointed the following members to the Health and Social Care Professional’s Council with effect from 21st March until 20th March 2027.
Geraldine O’Hare
Dr Geraldine O’Hare is a Chartered and Registered Forensic Psychologist and a Chartered Scientist. Geraldine worked as the Head of Psychological Services and Director of Rehabilitation with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland for 27 years. She currently holds several positions, including professional regulatory bodies in Ireland and the UK.
Martina O’Chúlain
Martina Ní Chúlain is Director of Strategic Development and Process Improvement at the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway. This senior leadership role interfaces at a strategic level at the nexus of the education sector, the healthcare sector, governmental agencies, charities and industry. Martina is responsible for strategic business planning and for the oversight and leadership of a €70 million complex portfolio of accredited clinical educational and research activities, which include regulated and non-regulated clinical trials and the management of accredited and regulated health care educational programmes (Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, SLT, OT, Podiatric Medicine and Social Care). Martina graduated from the University of Galway with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Biotechnology and PhD in Medical Microbiology. She joined the University of Galway in 2009 having previously worked in the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors and since 2015 holds the Director of Strategic Development and Process Improvement role at the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Martina previously held the roles of Head of Admissions and the Officer with responsibility for Academic Planning and Resourcing within the University. She has extensive experience in higher education leadership, governance, finance, large research bits, change management and the development of policies, services and programmes that support the mission of the University and that of the Saolta University Healthcare Group.
Following a Public Appointments Service campaign, The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly T.D., has appointed Ms Emma Benton to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council with effect from 21st March 2023 until 20th March 2027.
Emma Benton
Emma Benton is currently a General Manager in the Office of the National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Acute Operations within the HSE. A Trinity College graduate, she holds a BSc in Occupational Therapy, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Ulster and a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Quality Improvement from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Emma has over 30 years’ experience at both clinical and managerial level, having worked at basic, senior and manager grade within Occupational Therapy and as Therapy Professions Advisor supporting the National Clinical Programmes. She has worked across a variety of settings including acute hospital, day care, community care and intellectual disability and at regional and national level in the HSE. Furthermore, she has been involved in a significant number of change projects and working groups in her career such as the establishment of the Physical Disability Database, development of standards for Residential Settings for Older People, the North East Transformation Programme, the Expert Panel on Medical Eligibility for Medical Cards, the Clinical Advisory Group for Medical Cards and was a member of the Medical Council of Ireland Review of Performance Assessment.
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly T.D., has appointed the following as members to the Health & Social Care Professionals Council.
Patricia Jordan
Ms. Jordan has been working as a psychotherapist for the past 12 years. She qualified with a master’s in counselling and Psychotherapy from the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Institute of Ireland (NCPII) in 2010 and also holds post-graduate qualifications in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Clinical Supervision. Prior to working as a psychotherapist, Ms Jordan worked as a senior member of the national coordinating team in POBAL, charged with the development and implementation of social inclusion-related government and EU programmes. In that capacity, Ms. Jordan served on fifteen regional boards set up by Government, including PAUL Partnership Limerick, Tralee Area Partnership and West Limerick Resources. M.s Jordan also holds a teaching qualification and has worked in educational development work overseas. She currently operates a private practice, bringing with her an experience of having worked as a psychotherapist within a range of marginalised communities, with families affected by substance usage and with domestic refuges. Ms Jordan was appointed to CORU’s Counselling and Psychotherapy Board in 2019 and subsequently appointed to the Council of CORU in 2020.
Ms. Patricia Jordan was nominated by the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board and her reappointment is from 25th February 2023 to 24th February 2027.
Dr Mary Tumelty
Mary Tumelty is a lecturer at the School of Law, UCC. She holds an LLB and a PhD (UL) and her research interests include medical law, patient safety and alternative dispute resolution. Mary has a strong record in interdisciplinary and empirical research, including publishing, attracting funding, and engaging with stakeholders. Her work has been funded by the Irish Research Council and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. She has also collaborated on projects funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, and COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). In 2019, Dr Tumelty was appointed to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) by the Minister for Health. She is also a member of the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee (HRCDC) (appointed by the Minister for Health in January 2021).
This reappointment is for the period from 21st March 2023 to 20th March 2027.
Dr Marcella Finnerty
Marcella Finnerty holds her Doctorate in Psychotherapy from the Metanoia Institute, London. Her research focused on integration and pluralism within the practice of psychotherapy. Marcella is a practicing therapist and supervisor. She is a member of several professional bodies including the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP); the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP); the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP); the European Association of Psychotherapy (EAP) and the American Psychological Association (APA). Marcella has practiced, taught, researched, published and presented widely, both nationally and internationally, and in collaboration with many leaders in the field of psychotherapy. As President of IICP College she has extensive experience in governance, compliance, policy, and regulatory affairs. In addition, Marcella sits on the Board of the Higher Education and Colleges Association (HECA) and the Board of the Village Counselling Service (VCS). Marcella’s career encompasses professional, clinical, academic, teaching and research leadership. This facilitates her ability to draw on a wide range of knowledge, skills and expertise with a focus on practising within the profession.
Dr Marcella Finnerty was nominated by the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board and her appointment is from 25th February 2023 to 24th February 2025.
Deirdre Saul
Deirdre is an experienced, qualified Chartered Accountant and registered Tax Consultant with over twenty years’ experience in both the private and public sector. Previously, she was a Council member for ten years on the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. She is currently the Director of Finance at Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services, where she encounters daily a wide variety of health care professionals while primarily dealing with the finances of the organisation. Our Lady’s Hospice and Care services is an organisation which is 90% funded by the HSE. As Director of Finance, she sits on the Senior Management Team and attends the Board and necessary subcommittee meetings. Deirdre is passionate about the work of Our Lady’s Hospice and Care services for staff, patients, and families. Prior to her appointment to Our Lady’s Hospice and Care services, she was Director of Finance and Interim CEO at Down Syndrome Ireland during a difficult time for the organisation amidst the COVID pandemic. She has also held several finance roles in the private sector for US multinationals in the IT sector.
Ms. Deirdre Saul was appointed following a Public Appointments Service campaign, and her appointment is from 21st March 2023 until 20th March 2027