Ms Deirdre Walsh:

This is one of the issues that arose in the public consultation, on which we received submissions from a multiplicity of counsellors, including marriage guidance counsellors, relationship counsellors, and addiction counsellors. The new board will look at all of these areas and decide who meets the standard for registration or regulation and what their qualifications are. It is too early to say who, following on from this process, will be registered and able to use the protected title.