Ms Caroline Spillane:

In respect of the questions, I will take the one on continuing professional development, CPD, and code of conduct, and Mr. Bradley will deal with the other ones.

What we have before us is a Bill. Obviously, when it becomes an Act it will be for the registration body to create a set of rules and those rules will give effect to what the registration body deems as appropriate regarding continuing professional development. The body may say that if one has been excluded from the register or if there is an issue in the past, then there is an additional requirement on him or her regarding continuing professional development. It would be important that the registration body makes those rules. Those rules could be capable of being transferred into a statutory instrument to give them effect. That is a useful provision that is there for the registration body.

The code of conduct is not a code of ethics. That seems clear in the Bill. What it is attempting to do is specify standards of conduct and practice that registrants would be required to operate against. There are provisions in the Bill where the registration body can take action against a registered member if those standards and conduct and practice are breached. This comes down to the kinds of rules and the approach the body takes to what it is going to do in circumstances where it finds that there has been a fall short in the standard. That is very much down to the board, which comes back to the Minister ensuring that he appoints persons who are competent and who will act in an accountable and transparent manner.