Nurses and Midwives Act 2011

AN ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC IN ITS DEALINGS WITH NURSES AND MIDWIVES AND, FOR THAT PURPOSE, TO PROVIDE FOR A BOARD TO BE KNOWN AS BORD ALTRANAIS AGUS CNÁIMHSEACHAIS NA hÉIREANN, OR IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, THE NURSING AND MIDWIFERY BOARD OF IRELAND, TO RECOGNISE MIDWIFERY AS A SEPARATE PROFESSION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION, REGULATION AND CONTROL OF NURSES AND MIDWIVES, TO ENHANCE THE HIGH STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, TRAINING AND COMPETENCE OF NURSES AND MIDWIVES, TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST NURSES AND MIDWIVES AND TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE BOARD, TO DISSOLVE THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY, TO REPEAL THE NURSES ACT 1985 AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

[21st December, 2011]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

PART 1 Preliminary and general

1. Short title and commencement.

1.— (1) This Act may be cited as the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011.

• (2) This Act shall come into operation on the day or days that the Minister may appoint by order either generally or with reference to a particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.

• (3) An order under subsection (2) may, in respect of the repeal of the Act of 1985, and the revocation of the statutory instruments, effected by section 4, appoint different days for the repeal of different provisions of that Act and the revocation of different provisions of those statutory instruments.

2. Interpretation.

2.— (1) In this Act—

“Act of 1985” means the Nurses Act 1985;

F1["allegation", in relation to a complaint, means an allegation—

• (a) arising out of the complaint, and

• (b) which falls within one or more than one of the grounds specified in section 55(1);]

“An tÚdarás” means An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas;

“appropriate fee”, in relation to a provision of this Act, means the fee F1[(if any)] determined under section 38(1) that is appropriate for that provision;

F1["authorised officer" means a member of the staff of the Board appointed under section 56(1) to be an authorised officer to perform the functions specified under section 56(2);]

“Board” means the Board established by section 6 of the Act of 1985 and continued and renamed by section 6(1);

“candidate” means a person who is following a course of study or a period of adaptation leading to first time registration with the Board;

“candidate register” means the register established under section 46(1)(b);

“chief executive officer” means the chief executive officer of the Board appointed under section 28;

“complaint” means a complaint under section 55(1);

“conditions” includes terms F1[and restrictions];

“Court” means the High Court;

F2[“Directive 2005/36/EC” has the meaning assigned to “Directive” in Regulation 3(1) of the Regulations of 2017;]

“decision”, in relation to an appeal under section 52, F1[52A,] 73, 81 or 86, includes part of a decision;

“Fitness to Practise Committee” means the committee established under section 24(2)(b);

F1["health or social care", in relation to a person (howsoever described), means the health or social care that the person provides or has provided in his or her capacity or former capacity as a member of a relevant profession;]

“inquiry” means an inquiry into a complaint by the Fitness to Practise Committee pursuant to a referral under section 61;

F1["investigation", in relation to a complaint, means an investigation referred to in section 56A(1);

"investigation report", in relation to a complaint, means a report referred to in section 56A(3) following the investigation of the complaint;]

“local authority” has the same meaning as it has in the Local Government Act 2001;

F1["material matter", in relation to a person (howsoever described), means—

• (a) any of the following taken by any regulatory body (whether in or outside the State), other than the Board, in relation to the provision of one or more than one kind of health or social care by the person:

• (i) the imposition of conditions (other than relevant conditions) on any registration or licence;

• (ii) the suspension, withdrawal or removal of any registration or licence;

• (iii) the refusal to grant registration or a licence,

or

• (b) a conviction in the State for an offence triable on indictment (other than a spent conviction within the meaning of section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016) or a conviction outside the State for an offence consisting of acts or omissions that, if done or made in the State, would constitute an offence triable on indictment;]

“midwives division” means that division of the register of nurses and midwives referred to in section 46(2)(b);

“Minister” means the Minister for Health;

“nurses division” means that division of the register of nurses and midwives referred to in section 46(2)(a);

“poor professional performance”, in relation to a nurse or midwife, means a failure by the nurse or midwife to meet the standards of competence (whether in knowledge and skill or the application of knowledge and skill or both) that can reasonably be expected of a registered nurse or registered midwife, as the case may be, carrying out similar work;

“Preliminary Proceedings Committee” means the committee established under section 24(2)(a);

“professional competence scheme” means a scheme established under section 89(1);

“published in the prescribed manner”, in relation to any document or information (howsoever described), means the document or information, as the case may be—

• (a) is published on an internet website of the Board (including part of such a website) to which access is readily available by members of the public and where anything published is readily available for inspection by members of the public, and

• (b) is available for inspection, at the offices of the Board and at all reasonable times, by members of the public;

“register of nurses and midwives” means the register of nurses and midwives established under section 46(1)(a);

“registers establishment day” shall be construed in accordance with section 47(1);

“register of nurses” means the register established under section 27 of the Act of 1985;

F1["registered address" —

• (a) in relation to a registered nurse or registered midwife, means the address specified in the register of nurses and midwives as the nurse’s or midwife’s address, and

• (b) in relation to a registered candidate, means the address specified in the candidate register as the candidate’s address;

"registered candidate" means a candidate whose name is entered in the candidate register;]

“registered medical practitioner” has the same meaning as it has in the Medical Practitioners Act 2007;

“registered midwife”—

• (a) before the registers establishment day, means a midwife whose name is entered in the midwives division of the register of nurses within the meaning of the Act of 1985, and

• (b) on and after the registers establishment day, means a midwife whose name is entered in the midwives division of the register of nurses and midwives;

“registered nurse”—

• (a) before the registers establishment day, means a nurse whose name is entered in the register of nurses within the meaning of the Act of 1985, and

• (b) on and after the registers establishment day, means a nurse whose name is entered in the nurses division of the register of nurses and midwives;

F3[…]

F4[“Regulations of 2017” means the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 8 of 2017);]

“relevant condition”, in relation to a registered nurse or registered midwife, means any condition attached to the registration of the nurse or midwife pursuant to—

• (a) section 51,

• (b) a decision confirmed or given under F1[section 52(4) or 52A(4)],

• (c) a decision confirmed or given under section 73 or 74,

• (d) section 79(3), or

• (e) a decision confirmed or given under section 81(3);

F1["relevant medical disability", in relation to a person, means a physical or mental disability of the person (including addiction to alcohol or drugs) which may impair his or her ability to practise nursing or midwifery or a particular aspect thereof;]

F1["relevant profession" means any of the following professions:

• (a) dentist;

• (b) a designated profession within the meaning of section 3 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005;

• (c) medical practitioner;

• (d) midwife;

• (e) nurse;

• (f) pharmacist;

"restriction" includes a condition;]

“rules” means rules made under section 13;

“third country” means a state other than the State or another Member State.

• (2) For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared and recognised that midwifery is a separate profession to nursing.

• F5[(3) Unless otherwise specified in this Act, nothing in this Act shall be construed to prejudice the performance by the Board of its functions under the Regulations of 2017 as the competent authority in respect of the regulated professions (within the meaning of Regulation 3 of those Regulations) concerned.]

3. Regulations.

3.— (1) The Minister may make regulations prescribing any matter or thing which is referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed, or for the purpose of giving full effect to this Act.

• (2) The regulations may contain such consequential, supplementary or incidental provisions as may be necessary or expedient for that purpose.

• (3) Every regulation made under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after it is made and, if a resolution annulling such regulation is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

4. Repeal, revocation, etc.

4.— (1) The Act of 1985 is repealed.

• (2) The following orders are revoked:

• (a) National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (Establishment) Order 1999 (S.I. No. 376 of 1999);

• (b) National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (Establishment) Order, 1999 (Amendment) Order 2000 (S.I. No. 352 of 2000);

• (c) National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (Establishment) Order, 1999 (Amendment) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 800 of 2004); and

• (d) Health (An Bord Altranais) (Additional Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 3 of 2010).

5. Expenses.

5.— Any expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

PART 2 Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann

6. Continuance in being of Board.

6.— (1) Notwithstanding the repeal of section 6 of the Act of 1985 by section 4—

• (a) the body known as An Bord Altranais, or in the English language as the Nursing Board, established by that section 6 shall continue in being and shall be known as Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann or, in the English language, as the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, and

• (b) subject to subsections (5) to (7), anything commenced but not completed by that body, or the committee established under section 13(2) of the Act of 1985, before the repeal of that section by section 4, may be carried on and completed by the Board (with its membership as constituted under this Act) or that committee (with its membership as constituted under section 13 of the Act of 1985), as the case requires, after such repeal as if sections 6 and 13 of the Act of 1985 had not been repealed.

• (2) The Board is a body corporate with perpetual succession and an official seal and with power—

• (a) to sue and be sued in its corporate name, and

• (b) with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to acquire, hold and dispose of land or an interest in land, and to acquire, hold and dispose of any other property.

• (3) The Board may, subject to the provisions of this Act, regulate its own procedure.

• (4) The Schedule applies to the Board.

(5)(a) A person who is a member of the committee referred to in subsection (1)(b) but who ceases to be a member of the Board under section 22(6) shall, notwithstanding that cesser of membership of the Board, be deemed for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) to satisfy the requirements of section 13 of the Act of 1985 relating to the membership of that committee.

• (b) The committee referred to in subsection (1)(b) shall be deemed, for the purposes of that subsection, to satisfy the requirements of section 13(4), (5) and (6) of the Act of 1985 relating to its membership even if it ceases to satisfy those requirements by reason of the cesser of membership of one or more of its members.

• (6) Where pursuant to subsection (1)(b) the Board may take any relevant action in respect of the registration of a nurse or midwife, then the Board may take the equivalent action under this Act and—

• (a) in the case of equivalent action falling within paragraph (a) of the definition of “equivalent action” in subsection (7), section 79 shall apply to the equivalent action accordingly,

• (b) in the case of equivalent action falling within paragraph (c) of the definition of “equivalent action” in subsection (7)—

• (i) paragraph (b) of the definition of “relevant condition” in section 2(1) shall be construed to include the equivalent action accordingly, and

• (ii) sections 46(8) and 80 shall apply to the equivalent action accordingly.

• (7) In subsection (6)—

“equivalent action”, in relation to the registration of a nurse or midwife, means—

• (a) in the case of paragraph (a) of the definition of “relevant action”, the cancellation of the registration pursuant to a decision referred to in section 76(3),

• (b) in the case of paragraph (b) of the definition of “relevant action”, the suspension of the registration pursuant to a decision referred to in section 76(3),

• (c) in the case of paragraph (c) of the definition of “relevant action”, the attachment of conditions to the registration pursuant to a decision referred to in section 76(1);

“relevant action”, in relation to the registration of a nurse or midwife, means any action under Part V of the Act of 1985 pursuant to which the Board may—

• (a) erase the nurse’s or midwife’s name from the register of nurses,

• (b) give effect to a decision of the Board that during a period of specified duration the registration of the nurse’s or midwife’s name in the register of nurses shall not have effect, or

• (c) attach conditions to the retention of the nurse’s or midwife’s name in the register of nurses.

7. Seal of Board.

7.— (1) The seal of the Board shall be authenticated by—

• (a) the signature of the President of the Board or another member of the Board authorised by the Board to act in that behalf, and

• (b) the signature of an employee of the Board authorised by the Board to act in that behalf.

• (2) Judicial notice shall be taken of the seal of the Board and, accordingly, every document—

• (a) purporting to be an instrument made by the Board, and

• (b) purporting to be sealed with the seal of the Board authenticated in accordance with subsection (1),

shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such instrument without further proof unless the contrary is shown.

8. Object of Board.

8.— The object of the Board shall be the protection of the public in its dealing with nurses and midwives and the integrity of the practice of nursing and midwifery through the promotion of high standards of professional education, training and practice and professional conduct among nurses and midwives.

9. Functions of Board.

9.— (1) The Board shall—

• (a) do all things necessary and reasonable to further its object, and

• (b) perform its functions in the public interest.

• (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Board shall—

• (a) establish and maintain the register of nurses and midwives and the candidate register,

• (b) establish procedures and criteria for assessment and registration in the register of nurses and midwives and the candidate register, and the divisions of those registers, including the issue of certificates of registration and renewal of registration,

• (c) approve programmes of education and further education necessary for the purposes of registration and continued registration,

• (d) keep the programmes referred to in paragraph (c) under review,

• (e) act as the competent authority for the purposes of—

• (i) the mutual recognition of professional qualifications of nurses and midwives F6[under the Regulations of 2017],

• (ii) all matters referred to in Directive 2005/36/EC which relate to the role of a competent authority for the purposes of the recognition of professional qualifications of nurses and midwives,

• (f) enter into agreements, with bodies in third countries that are duly authorised to perform functions in third countries that correspond to the functions of the Board, in relation to—

• (i) the recognition by the Board, for the purposes of registration, of degrees, diplomas and other qualifications relating to the practice of nursing and midwifery awarded in those third countries,

• (ii) the recognition by such bodies, for the purposes of authorisation to practise nursing and midwifery in third countries, of degrees, diplomas and other qualifications relating to the practice of nursing and midwifery awarded in the State,

• (g) specify standards of practice for registered nurses and registered midwives, including the establishment, publication, maintenance and review of—

• (i) appropriate guidance on all matters related to professional conduct and ethics for registered nurses and registered midwives,

• (ii) appropriate guidance on the maintenance of the professional competence of registered nurses and registered midwives, and

• (iii) a code of professional conduct for registered nurses and registered midwives,

• (h) specify criteria regarding the creation by employers of specialist nursing and midwifery posts,

• (i) establish committees to inquire into complaints,

• (j) make decisions and give directions under Part 9 relating to the imposition of sanctions on registered nurses and registered midwives,

• (k) advise the public on all matters of general interest relating to the functions of the Board, its area of expertise and other matters of interest to the public relating to nurses and midwives and their practice, including public advertisement of the object, functions and contact details of the Board from time to time,

• (l) advise the Minister, either at the Minister’s request or on its own initiative, on all matters relating to the other functions conferred on it by any provision of this Act, and

• (m) perform any other function conferred on it under any other provision of this Act or of any other enactment.

• (3) The Board shall, not later than 12 months after this subsection is commenced, publish in the prescribed manner a code of practice regarding its interactions with nurses and midwives, candidates and members of the public.

• (4) The Board shall, in performing its functions, have regard to—

• (a) functions performed by other bodies that are similar or ancillary to the functions that the Board performs,

• (b) the need to co-operate with and co-ordinate its activities with those of other public authorities or bodies (in particular, the Health Service Executive) if the performance of their functions affects or could affect the health of the public,

• (c) the need to promote efficiencies in the delivery of training of candidates, post-registration training and specialist training through the development of standard practices,

• (d) the policies and objectives of the Government or any Minister of the Government to the extent that those policies and objectives may affect or relate to the functions of the Board,

• (e) the resources, wherever originating, that are available to it for the purpose of performing its functions, and

• (f) the need to secure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of those resources.

• (5) The Board has power to do anything that appears to it to be requisite, advantageous or incidental to, or to facilitate, the performance of its functions, including the making of arrangements with any person or body to assist the Board or a committee of the Board in the proper discharge of any of its functions.

• (6) The Minister, or a person authorised by the Minister to give a notice under this subsection, may by notice in writing given to the Board require the Board to provide the Minister or that person, as the case may be, with such information in relation to the performance of the Board’s functions as is specified in the notice and within the period specified in the notice (being a period reasonable in the circumstances).

• (7) The Board shall comply with a notice given to it under subsection (6) except to the extent that it is prohibited from doing so by another provision of this Act.

10. Conferral of additional functions on Board.

10.— (1) The Minister may by order—

• (a) confer on the Board such additional functions connected with registered nurses and midwives, and candidates, the education and training of nurses, midwives and candidates, and the practice of nursing and midwifery and the persons engaged in the practice of those professions, as the Minister thinks fit, and

• (b) make such provisions as the Minister considers necessary or expedient in relation to matters ancillary to or arising out of the conferral of additional functions on the Board.

• (2) Every order made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which the House has sat after that order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under it.

11. Ministerial directions to Board.

11.— (1) The Minister may give general policy directions in writing to the Board in relation to the performance by the Board of its functions except any such functions—

• (a) relating to the professional conduct and ethics of registered nurses and registered midwives, or

• (b) relating to fitness to practise.

• (2) Nothing in directions given under subsection (1) is to be construed as preventing the Board from, or limiting the Board in, performing its functions.

• (3) The Board shall comply with a direction given by the Minister under this section.

12. Immunity.

12.— (1) A person to whom this subsection applies, acting in good faith, shall not be liable in any civil proceedings for any act done or omission made in the performance or purported performance by him or her of any function under this Act.

• (2) The persons to whom subsection (1) applies are—

• (a) the members and former members of the Board,

• (b) the members and former members of any committee,

• (c) the chief executive officer and any former chief executive officer,

• (d) the employees and former employees of the Board, and

• (e) the persons appointed or formerly appointed to assist the Preliminary Proceedings Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee.

13. Board’s power to make rules.

13.— (1) Subject to subsections (3), (4) and (5), the Board—

• (a) may, with the approval of the Minister, make rules for the purposes of the better operation of any provision of this Act, or

• (b) at the request in writing of the Minister and in accordance with the request, shall make rules for the purposes of the better operation of any provision of this Act.

• (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Board may make rules under this section in relation to—

• (a) the establishment, membership, functions and procedures of committees,

• (b) the form and manner in which the register of nurses and midwives and the candidate register and their divisions are to be established and maintained,

• (c) the details relating to nurses and midwives that, in addition to their names, are to be entered in the register of nurses and midwives or their certificates of registration or both,

• (d) permits for the purposes of section 41(2),

• (e) the manner in which appropriate fees are to be paid and the time limits for payment of appropriate fees for the retention of registration,

• (f) the receiving and recording of evidence by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee,

• (g) the receiving of submissions by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee,

• F7[(h) subject to subsection (3A), the establishment, membership, functions and procedures of subcommittees of committees, including—

• (i) in the case of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee, subcommittees to give initial consideration to complaints on behalf of that Committee, and

• (ii) in the case of the Fitness to Practise Committee, subcommittees inquiring, on behalf of that Committee, into complaints referred to that Committee,

• (ha) the recognition of a qualification held by a person,]

• (i) the register of nurses and midwives and the candidate register, and the divisions of those registers, including the setting of criteria relating to—

• (i) appropriate qualifications, education and training, and relevant competencies of nurses or midwives registered or to be registered,

• (ii) the possession of sufficient knowledge of the language or languages necessary to practise as a nurse or midwife in the State,

• (iii) any requirement for relevant post registration experience or clinical experience of nurses or midwives, or

• (iv) any other matter where, in the opinion of the Board, the setting of criteria relating to that matter is necessary or desirable for the protection of the public,

in relation to the assessment of applications for registration in any of those registers or divisions and for annotations of those registrations,

• (j) the specification of examinations for the purposes of registration,

• (k) the specification of grounds for the purposes of the restoration of a registration in the register of nurses and midwives or the candidate register, or a division of those registers,

• (l) the setting of criteria for the purposes of education and training, including the setting of criteria relating to—

• (i) persons seeking admission to education and training programmes,

• (ii) bodies which may deliver education and training programmes, or

• (iii) any other matter where, in the opinion of the Board, the setting of criteria relating to that matter is necessary or desirable for the protection of the public,

• (m) the setting of criteria or conditions for persons who wish to practise nursing or midwifery after having not practised for a period specified in the rules, including the setting of criteria or conditions relating to—

• (i) the education and training of those persons,

• (ii) the possession of sufficient knowledge of the language or languages necessary to practise as a nurse or midwife in the State,

• (iii) the manner of verifying that those persons possess the relevant competencies, or

• (iv) any other matter where, in the opinion of the Board, the setting of criteria relating to that matter is necessary or desirable for the protection of the public,

• (n) the specification of standard governance frameworks for midwives, including the requirement for indemnity insurance for midwives,

• (o) any professional competence scheme, and

• (p) any other matter relating to the Board’s functions.

• (3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2)(f) and (g), rules made under this section may specify—

• (a) the form in which and the means by which evidence or submissions may be received by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee, and

• (b) the conditions subject to which evidence or submissions may be received by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee, by means of a live video link, a video recording, a sound recording or any other mode of transmission.

• F8[(3A) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2)(h), rules made under that subsection may provide that—

• (a) the chairperson of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee, or such other member of that Committee who is authorised by the rules to do so, may establish, in accordance with the rules, a subcommittee referred to in subsection (2)(h)(i), or

• (b) the chairperson of the Fitness to Practise Committee, or such other member of that Committee who is authorised by the rules to do so, may establish, in accordance with the rules, a subcommittee referred to in subsection (2)(h)(ii).]

• (4) The Board shall ensure that—

• (a) a draft of any rule (including a rule revoking or amending any other rule) that it proposes to make under this section is published in the prescribed manner,

• (b) with the draft is published an invitation to members of the public, any organisation and any other body to comment on the draft before a date specified by the Board in the invitation, being a date reasonable in the circumstances, and

• (c) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (b), a copy of the draft of the rule is given to—

• (i) the Minister,

• (ii) the Health Service Executive, and

• (iii) if the draft relates to a professional competence scheme, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform,

not later than the date on which the Board complies with paragraph (b) in respect of that draft.

• (5) Subject to subsection (6), the Board, after considering any comments on a draft of a rule published pursuant to subsection (4)(a) received before the date specified in the invitation referred to in subsection (4)(b) which relates to the draft, may—

• (a) make the rule in the form of the draft as published or with such changes as the Board determines, or

• (b) decide not to make the rule.

• (6) The Board shall not make rules under this section relating to a professional competence scheme except with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

• (7) The Board shall ensure that, as soon as is practicable after a rule is made under this section, the rule—

• (a) is submitted for approval by the Minister, and

• (b) if approved by the Minister, is published in the manner prescribed by the rules and submitted to the Minister for laying before each House of the Oireachtas.

• (8) Every rule approved under subsection (7)(b) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the rule is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after that rule is laid before it, the rule shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under it.

• (9) Notwithstanding the repeal of section 26 of the Act of 1985 by section 4, where a rule was in force immediately before that repeal and dealt with any of the matters for which rules may be made under this section—

• (a) the rule shall be deemed to be a rule made under this section until the Board makes a rule under this section that replaces it, and

• (b) all formalities required by this section for the validity of rules and anything done under rules shall be deemed to have been complied with in relation to that rule.

14. Board’s power to issue guidelines.

14.— (1) The Board may from time to time prepare, for the guidance of nurses and midwives and the public, guidelines not inconsistent with this Act (including any regulations or rules made under this Act) indicating the manner in which the Board proposes to perform its functions.

• (2) The Board shall ensure that guidelines prepared by it under this section are published in the prescribed manner as soon as is practicable after the guidelines have been prepared.

15. Co-operation with certain bodies.

15.— (1) As soon as is practicable after the commencement of this section, there shall be entered into between the Board and every one of the prescribed bodies one or more agreements for the purposes of—

• (a) facilitating co-operation between the Board and the prescribed bodies in the performance of their respective functions in so far as they relate to issues of the protection of the public by the promotion of high standards of professional competence among nurses and midwives,

• (b) avoiding duplication of activities by the Board and any of the prescribed bodies,

• (c) enabling the Board to be consulted in relation to any decisions by the prescribed bodies which affect the public where they relate to questions of professional competence of nurses or midwives,

• (d) where appropriate, conducting joint studies or analysis of matters relating to nursing and midwifery and the protection of the public,

and each such agreement that is entered into is referred to in this section as a “co-operation agreement”.

• (2) It shall not be necessary for the purposes of subsection (1) that the same prescribed bodies be party to each agreement entered into with the Board under that subsection.

• (3) A co-operation agreement shall include provisions—

• (a) enabling each party to furnish to another party information in its possession if the information is required by that other party for the purpose of the performance by it of any of its functions,

• (b) enabling each party to forbear to perform any of its functions in relation to a matter in circumstances where it is satisfied that another party is performing functions in relation to that matter, and

• (c) requiring each party to consult with any other party before performing any functions in circumstances where the respective exercise by each party of the functions concerned involves the determination of issues of the professional competence of nurses or midwives for the protection of the public that are identical to one another or are within the same category of such an issue, being a category specified in the co-operation agreement.

• (4) A co-operation agreement may be varied by the parties concerned.

• (5) The Minister and, where relevant, the Minister or Ministers of the Government with responsibility for the prescribed body concerned shall each be furnished by the Board with a copy of every co-operation agreement (including any variation of the agreement) that has been made within 1 month after the agreement (or the variation of it) has been made.

• (6) A co-operation agreement, or any variation made to it, shall be in writing and, as soon as practicable after the agreement or variation has been made and furnished to the Minister or Ministers of the Government concerned, notice of its making shall be published by the parties in the prescribed manner.

• (7) If information is furnished by one party to another party pursuant to a provision of a co-operation agreement of the kind referred to in subsection (3)(a), the provisions of any enactment concerning the disclosure of that information by the first-mentioned party shall apply to the second-mentioned party with respect to that information.

• (8) A failure by the Board or a prescribed body to comply with a provision of a co-operation agreement shall not invalidate the exercise by it of any power.

• (9) The Minister may make regulations prescribing bodies for the purposes of this section having regard to the functions and activities of such bodies as they relate to the regulation of nurses and midwives or the protection of the public and, before prescribing a body for which another Minister of the Government has responsibility, the Minister shall consult with that other Minister.

• (10) In this section, “party” means a party to a co-operation agreement and a reference to another party (whether that expression or the expression “the other party” is used) shall, where there are 2 or more other parties to the agreement, be construed as a reference to one or more of those other parties or each of them, as may be appropriate.

16. Disclosure of information relating to offences.

16.— Notwithstanding section 17, information, which in the opinion of the chief executive officer may relate to the commission of an indictable offence, may be disclosed to—

• (a) the Director of Corporate Enforcement,

• (b) the Competition Authority,

• (c) a member of the Garda Síochána,

• (d) an officer of the Revenue Commissioners,

• (e) the Central Bank of Ireland, or

• (f) such other person as may be prescribed by the Minister by regulations after consultation by the Minister with any other Minister of the Government appearing to the Minister to be concerned.

17. Prohibition on unauthorised disclosure of information.

17.— (1) A person shall not, unless authorised by the Board or by an employee of the Board duly authorised in that behalf so to do, or required by law so to do, disclose confidential information obtained by him or her in his or her capacity, or while performing duties, as—

• (a) a member of the Board or of a committee,

• (b) the chief executive officer,

• (c) an employee of the Board,

• (d) a consultant or adviser engaged by the Board or an employee of such a consultant or adviser, or

• (e) a person engaged by the Board in any other capacity.

• (2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to—

• (a) a communication made by a member of the Board or of a committee, the chief executive officer or an employee of the Board, in the performance of any of his or her functions under this Act, being a communication the making of which was necessary for the performance by the member, chief executive officer or employee of the Board of any such function, or

• (b) the disclosure by a member of the Board or of a committee, the chief executive officer, or an employee of the Board to any member of the Garda Síochána of information which, in the opinion of the member, or chief executive officer or employee, may relate to the commission of an offence triable on indictment.

• (3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a class A fine or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or both.

• (4) Nothing in subsection (1) shall prevent the disclosure of information by a person in the circumstances referred to in section 35(2) of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995.

• (5) Nothing in subsection (1) shall prevent the disclosure of information by means of a report made—

• (a) to the Board or a committee, as the case may be, or

• (b) by or on behalf of the Board or a committee to the Minister.

• (6) In this section “confidential information” includes information that is expressed by the Board or a committee, as the case may be, to be confidential either as regards particular information or as regards information of a particular class or description.

PART 3 Statement of Strategy, Business Plan and Annual Report of Board

18. Board to prepare and submit statement of strategy.

18.— (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (6), the Board shall—

• (a) prepare and adopt a statement of strategy for the term of office of the Board (or, as the case requires, the remaining term of office of the Board), and

• (b) submit the statement to the Minister—

• (i) not later than 6 months after the commencement of this subsection,

• (ii) not later than 6 months after the appointment of a new Minister having charge of the Department of Health if that Minister requests that a statement of strategy be submitted,

• (iii) not later than 6 months of the beginning of the term of office of each new Board appointed under section 22.

• (2) The Board shall prepare a statement of strategy in a form and manner in accordance with any directions issued by the Minister and shall ensure that the statement specifies—

• (a) the key objectives of the Board for the period to which the statement relates and the strategies for achieving those objectives,

• (b) the manner in which the Board proposes to measure its achievement of those objectives, and

• (c) the uses for which the Board proposes to apply its resources.

• (3) The Board shall, in preparing the statement of strategy, have regard to the policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government to the extent that those policies may affect or relate to the functions of the Board.

• (4) The Board shall ensure that—

• (a) a draft of the statement of strategy that it proposes to adopt under this section is published in the prescribed manner, not later than 2 months before the time when the Board is to submit a statement of strategy to the Minister under subsection (1)(b),

• (b) with the draft is published an invitation to members of the public, any organisation and any body to comment on the draft before a date, which shall not be earlier than one month after the date of the publication, which the Board specifies in the invitation, and

• (c) it considers any comments received under paragraph (b) in preparing the statement of strategy that it submits to the Minister under this section.

• (5) The Minister may direct the Board to amend a statement of strategy submitted to the Minister if, in the Minister’s opinion, the statement—

• (a) does not contain any information required under subsection (2),

• (b) does not comply in any other respect with subsection (2), or

• (c) has been prepared without regard to the policies referred to in subsection (3).

• (6) The Board shall comply with a direction given to it under subsection (5) within the period, if any, specified in the direction, being a period reasonable in the circumstances.

• (7) The Board may amend an adopted statement of strategy and, in any such case—

• (a) subsections (2) to (6) shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to the preparation of the amended statement as they apply to a statement of strategy prepared under subsection (1), and

• (b) the Board shall adopt the amended statement and submit it to the Minister not later than 3 weeks after the date on which the Board adopted the amended statement.

• (8) Nothing in a statement of strategy is to be construed as preventing the Board from, or limiting the Board in, performing its functions.

19. Publication and implementation of statement of strategy.

19.— (1) The Minister shall ensure that a copy of a statement of strategy or an amended statement of strategy is laid before each House of the Oireachtas within 21 days after the statement is received by the Minister.

• (2) The Board shall ensure that, as soon as is practicable after copies of a statement of strategy or of an amended statement of strategy are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, the statement is published in the prescribed manner.

• (3) The Board shall submit progress reports to the Minister on the implementation of a statement of strategy or an amended statement of strategy, as the case requires—

• (a) in its annual report, and

• (b) in such other manner and at such intervals as the Minister may direct.

• (4) F9[…]

• (5) F9[…]

20. Board to prepare and forward business plan to Minister.

20.— (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (5), the Board shall, in each year—

• (a) prepare and adopt a business plan in respect of that year or of such other period as may be determined by the Minister, and

• (b) submit the plan to the Minister.

• (2) The Board shall prepare a business plan in a form and manner in accordance with any directions issued by the Minister (including any timescale in which the plan must be submitted to the Minister) and shall ensure that the plan—

• (a) indicates the type and volume of business to be undertaken by the Board during the period to which the plan relates,

• (b) indicates any capital plans proposed by the Board,

• (c) contains estimates of the number of employees of the Board for the period and the business to which the plan relates, and

• (d) contains any other information specified by the Minister.

• (3) The Board shall, in preparing a business plan, have regard to—

• (a) the statement of strategy in operation at that time,

• (b) any direction issued by the Minister under section 11(1), and

• (c) the policies and objectives of the Minister and the Government as they relate to the functions of the Board.

• (4) The Minister may direct the Board to amend a business plan submitted to the Minister if, in the Minister’s opinion, the plan—

• (a) does not contain any information required under subsection (2),

• (b) does not comply in any other respect with subsection (2), or

• (c) has been prepared without regard to a matter specified in subsection (3).

• (5) The Board shall comply with a direction given to it under subsection (4) within the period, if any, specified in the direction, being a period reasonable in the circumstances.

• (6) The Board shall submit to the Minister with a business plan a statement of its estimate of the income and expenditure relating to the plan that is consistent with the moneys estimated to be available to the Board for the period to which the business plan relates.

• (7) The Minister shall ensure that copies of a business plan submitted to the Minister are laid before each House of the Oireachtas within 21 days after the plan is so submitted.

• (8) The Board shall ensure that, as soon as is practicable after copies of a business plan are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, the plan is published in the prescribed manner.

• (9) The Board may amend an adopted business plan and, in any such case—

• (a) subsections (2) to (8) shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to the preparation of the amended plan as they apply to a business plan prepared under subsection (1), and

• (b) the Board shall adopt the amended plan and submit it to the Minister not later than 3 weeks after the date on which the Board adopted the amended plan.

21. Board to submit annual report to Minister.

21.— (1) Subject to subsection (3), the Board shall, not later than 3 months after the end of each financial year or such further period, not exceeding 3 months, as the Minister permits, submit to the Minister a report (in this section referred to as the “annual report”) of the activities of the Board in the immediately preceding financial year.

• (2) The Minister may specify, by direction in writing to the Board, any information which is required to be included in the annual report.

• (3) The Board shall comply with a direction given to it under subsection (2).

• (4) The Minister shall ensure that copies of the annual report are laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after the report is received by the Minister.

PART 4 Members, Committees and Employees of Board

22. Members of Board.

22.— (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (7), the members of the Board shall be appointed by the Minister and shall consist of the following 23 persons:

• (a) 2 persons employed as members of the academic staff, one at a University and the other at an Institute of Technology, and of whom one shall be a registered nurse and one shall be a registered midwife, who are appointed by the Minister after consultation with the Minister for Education and Skills, and who are chosen by the Minister from lists of names of registered nurses and registered midwives so employed which are compiled, in accordance with procedures specified by the Minister, jointly—

• (i) in the case of the first nomination to be made after the commencement of this section, by the institutions approved under section 34 of the Act of 1985 as suitable for the training of nurses or candidates, and

• (ii) in any other case, by the bodies approved to deliver programmes of pre-registration nursing and midwifery education and training;

• (b) one Director of Nursing or Director of Midwifery who shall be chosen by the Minister from a list of names of such Directors which is compiled by the Health Service Executive in accordance with procedures specified by the Minister;

• (c) 8 registered nurses or registered midwives elected by registered nurses and registered midwives in accordance with procedures specified by the Minister, of whom—

• (i) 2 shall be nurses, including at least one engaged in clinical nursing practice, one from the practice of general nursing and one from the practice of children’s nursing,

• (ii) 2 shall be nurses, including at least one engaged in clinical nursing practice, one from the practice of psychiatric nursing and one from the practice of intellectual disability nursing,

• (iii) 2 shall be persons, including at least one engaged in clinical practice, and one of whom is from the practice of midwifery and the other from the practice of public health nursing,

• (iv) one shall be a person employed in the public health sector and engaged in the education of nurses or midwives, and

• (v) one shall be a nurse from the area of nursing engaged in the care of older persons;

• (d) one person nominated by the Medical Council whose name is entered in the register of medical practitioners maintained under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 and who is not and never has been a registered nurse or registered midwife in the State or in another jurisdiction;

• (e) one person nominated by the Minister for Education and Skills from a third-level educational establishment which is involved in the education and training of nurses or midwives and who is not and never has been a registered nurse or registered midwife in the State or in another jurisdiction;

• (f) 2 persons nominated by the Health Service Executive who are representative of the management of the public health sector and who are not and never have been registered nurses or registered midwives in the State or in another jurisdiction;

• (g) one person nominated by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council who is not and never has been a registered nurse or registered midwife in the State or in another jurisdiction and—

• (i) subject to subparagraph (ii), who is a registrant within the meaning of section 3 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, or

• (ii) in the absence of any such registrant, who is a member of a designated profession within the meaning of that section;

• (h) one person nominated by the Health Information and Quality Authority and who is not and never has been a registered nurse or registered midwife in the State or in another jurisdiction;

• (i) one person who is experienced in the provision of health or personal social care in the voluntary sector and who is not and never has been a registered nurse or registered midwife in the State or in another jurisdiction; and

• (j) 5 other persons who—

• (i) are not and never have been registered nurses or registered midwives in the State or in another jurisdiction, and

• (ii) have such qualifications, expertise, interests or experience as, in the opinion of the Minister formed after engaging in such consultations as he or she considers appropriate, would enable them to make a contribution to the performance of the Board’s functions.

• (2) The Board shall elect a President of the Board from amongst its members—

• (a) for the first term after the commencement of this section, for the term specified by the Board referred to in paragraph 13(2) of the Schedule, and

• (b) for all other terms, in accordance with the Schedule.

• (3) The Board shall elect a Vice-President of the Board from amongst its members in accordance with the Schedule.

• (4) The Minister shall, to the extent practicable, endeavour to ensure that there is an equitable balance between men and women in the membership of the Board.

• (5) A person is not eligible for appointment as a member of the Board, or of a committee, if the person is—

• (a) a member of either House of the Oireachtas or of the European Parliament, or

• (b) regarded, pursuant to section 19 of the European Parliament Elections Act 1997, as having been elected to the European Parliament to fill a vacancy.

• (6) A person who was a member of the Board immediately before the commencement of this section shall, on that commencement, cease to be a member of the Board unless the person is appointed pursuant to subsection (1) to be a member of the Board.

• (7) Notwithstanding the appointment of persons to be members of the Board pursuant to this section, the Board may, without prejudice to section 6, perform any function assigned to it by any provision of the Act of 1985 until such provision is repealed.

23. First meeting of Board under this Act.

23.— (1) The chief executive officer shall give notice in writing to the members of the Board of the time and place of the first meeting of the Board after the appointment of the members under section 22.

• (2) The Board shall meet at the time and place notified by the chief executive officer under subsection (1) for its first meeting following the appointment of members.

24. Committees of Board.

24.— (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (18), the Board may establish committees of the Board to perform any functions that, in the opinion of the Board, may be better or more conveniently performed by a committee and that are assigned by the Board to a committee.

• (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Board shall establish—

• (a) a committee, to be known as the Preliminary Proceedings Committee, to give initial consideration to complaints, and

• (b) a committee, to be known as the Fitness to Practise Committee, to inquire into complaints,

to perform the functions under Parts 7, 8 and 9 that are respectively assigned to the committees.

• (3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Board shall establish a committee to be known as the Midwives Committee to provide advice to the Board in relation to all matters pertaining to midwifery practice, which the Board shall consider when performing functions in relation to midwifery practice, consisting of at least 8 members, including the following persons:

• (a) two registered midwives, each of whom is a member of the Board;

• (b) at least 6 other persons appointed by the Board, including the following persons:

• (i) 2 midwives, including one who may be a self-employed community midwife;

• (ii) a registered medical practitioner registered in the Specialist Division in relation to obstetrics and gynaecology under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007;

• (iii) a registered nurse who is a member of the Board;

• (iv) two persons, each of whom, in the opinion of the Board, is representative of the public interest and each of whom is not and never has been a registered nurse or registered midwife in the State or a nurse or midwife in another jurisdiction.

• (4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Board may establish a committee, to be known as the Education and Training Committee, to perform such of the Board’s functions regarding education and training of nurses, midwives and candidates as are assigned by the Board to the Committee.

• (5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Board may establish a committee, to be known as the Health Committee, to perform such functions as are specified by the Board in support of—

• (a) registered nurses and registered midwives with relevant medical disabilities, and

• (b) registered nurses and registered midwives who have given consents under F10[section 57A(1)(d) or 65(1)(d)].

• (6) Subject to subsections (3) and (7) to (12), a committee may include in its membership persons who are not members of the Board.

• (7) The chairperson of each of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee and the Fitness to Practise Committee shall, at the time of appointment, be a member of the Board other than the President or Vice-President of the Board.

• (8) No person shall be a member of both the Preliminary Proceedings Committee and the Fitness to Practise Committee at the same time.

• (9) At least one third of the members of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee, including the chairperson, shall, at the time of appointment, be members of the Board, and the majority of the membership of that committee shall consist of persons who are not and never have been registered nurses or registered midwives in the State or nurses or midwives in another jurisdiction.

• (10) At least one third of the members of the Fitness to Practise Committee, including the chairperson, shall, at the time of appointment, be members of the Board, and the majority of the membership of that committee shall consist of persons who are not and never have been registered nurses or registered midwives in the State or nurses or midwives in another jurisdiction.

• (11) Subject to F11[subsections (9), (10) and (11A)]—

• (a) there shall be at least one nurse and one midwife on each of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee and the Fitness to Practise Committee, and

• (b) at least one third of the membership of each of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee and the Fitness to Practise Committee shall consist of persons who are either registered nurses or registered midwives.

• F12[(11A) Paragraph (a) of subsection (11) shall not apply to the Fitness to Practise Committee except in relation to the Committee’s inquiry into a complaint the hearing of which under section 63 has commenced before the date of coming into operation of section 146 of the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020.]

• (12) A member of a committee established under this section shall serve on the committee on such terms (including term of office, removal and resignation) as the Board determines.

• (13) Where the term of office of one or more members of a committee ends during the consideration of a matter, including the consideration of a complaint under Part 7 or 8, the Board shall decide—

• (a) that the member or members may continue in office beyond the expiration of his or her term, or their terms, for so long as is required for the committee to finish consideration of the matter concerned,

• (b) that the committee concerned, as constituted without that member or those members, shall continue to consider the matter, or

• (c) that the consideration of the matter be stopped and that a newly constituted committee begin to consider the matter once the vacancy or vacancies created by the expiration of the term or terms has or have been filled,

and any decision of the committee on that matter following the Board’s decision shall be as valid as if no term of office had so expired.

• (14) On the expiration of the term of office as a Board member of a person who is a member of a committee referred to in subsection (7), (9) or (10), that member shall continue in office as a member of the committee beyond the expiration of the term so long as is required for the committee to finish the consideration of a matter being considered by it on the date of that expiration, and the decision of the committee on the matter concerned shall be as valid as if the term of office as a member of the Board had not expired.

• (15) The acts of a committee (except the Preliminary Proceedings Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee) shall be subject to confirmation by the Board unless the Board dispenses with the necessity for such confirmation.

• (16) The Board may, subject to the provisions of this Act, regulate the procedure of a committee but, subject to any such regulation, the committee may regulate its own procedure.

• (17) The Board may dissolve a committee other than the Preliminary Proceedings Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee.

• (18) The members of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee and the Fitness to Practise Committee, in performing the functions under this Act respectively conferred on—

• (a) the members in their capacity as such members, or

• (b) the committee of which they are members,

shall have the same protection and immunity as a judge of the Court performing the functions of a judge.

• (19) Where the Board establishes a subcommittee of any committee established under this section, that subcommittee may perform any of the functions of the committee concerned as if it were that committee, and every reference in this Act to that committee shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as including a reference to that subcommittee.

• F13[(20)
• (a) Subject to paragraph (c), where a subcommittee of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee is established pursuant to rules made under section 13, that subcommittee may perform any of the functions of that Committee, and every reference in this Act to the Preliminary Proceedings Committee shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as including a reference to that subcommittee.

• (b) Subject to paragraph (c), where a subcommittee of the Fitness to Practise Committee is established pursuant to rules made under section 13, that subcommittee may perform any of the functions of that Committee, and every reference in this Act to the Fitness to Practise Committee shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as including a reference to that subcommittee.

• (c) Neither paragraph (a) nor (b) shall be construed as entitling a subcommittee referred to in that paragraph to itself establish a subcommittee.]

25. Expenses of members of Board and committees.

25.— A member of the Board or of any committee established by the Board shall be paid, out of funds at the disposal of the Board, such allowances for travelling and subsistence expenses incurred in respect of the member’s attendance at a meeting of the Board or of the committee, as the case may be, or otherwise in connection with the affairs of the Board as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, determines.

26. Payment of allowances.

26.— (1) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, from time to time determine the amount of an allowance that may be paid by the Board to—

• (a) the President of the Board in respect of the President’s role as President,

• (b) a member of the Board in respect of such membership, or

• (c) a member of a committee in respect of such membership.

• (2) An allowance referred to in subsection (1) shall be paid out of the funds at the disposal of the Board.

27. Removal of members of Board from office.

27.— (1) The Minister may at any time remove a member of the Board from office if, in the Minister’s opinion—

• (a) the member has become incapable through illness of performing the functions of the office,

• (b) the member has committed stated misbehaviour,

• (c) whether or not following a review under subsection (9), the member’s behaviour prevents the Board from, or unnecessarily hinders the Board in, performing its functions in an effective manner,

• (d) the member has contravened an applicable provision of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001, or

• (e) in performing functions under this Act, the member has not been guided by a code of conduct that has been drawn up under section 10(3) of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 and that relates to the member.

• (2) A member of the Board ceases to hold office if the member—

• (a) is adjudicated bankrupt,

• (b) makes a composition or arrangement with creditors,

• (c) is convicted of an indictable offence,

• (d) is convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty,

• (e) is the subject of an order under section 160 of the Companies Act 1990,

• (f) is sentenced to a term of imprisonment by a court of competent jurisdiction, or

• (g) is removed by a competent authority for any reason (other than failure to pay a fee) from any register established for the purpose of registering members of a profession in the State or in another jurisdiction.

• (3) A member of the Board who does not, for a consecutive period of 6 months, attend a meeting of the Board ceases at the end of that period to hold office unless the member demonstrates to the Minister’s satisfaction that the failure to attend was due to illness.

• (4) Where the Board does not perform any function conferred on it under this Act, the Minister may, by order, direct the Board to perform that function and for that purpose to do such other things ancillary or incidental thereto as may be specified in the order.

• (5) Subject to subsection (7), where the Board fails to comply with any direction of the Minister contained in an order under subsection (4), the Minister may, by order, remove from office the members of the Board.

• (6) Subject to subsection (7), the Minister may, by order, remove all the members of the Board from office if the Minister is of the opinion that—

• (a) the Board fails to achieve a quorum for 3 consecutive meetings,

• (b) the Board does not comply with a judgment, order or decree of any court,

• (c) the Board does not comply with a direction of the Minister or any other requirement imposed on it by or under any enactment including this Act, or

• (d) whether or not following a review under subsection (9), the Minister is satisfied that the members’ behaviour prevents the Board from, or unnecessarily hinders the Board in, performing its functions in an effective manner.