Ms Lisa Molloy:

I will take the Deputy's question about registration, regulation and qualifications. The ICP very much welcomes regulation of the profession. As far as I understand, legislation is working its way through the Houses at present to designate and protect the titles "counsellor" and "psychotherapist". In the meantime, the IACP has very stringent standards and a very high quality of counsellors and psychotherapists. As our members, they go through a very stringent, monitored, standardised, quality-checked process on their journey to become accredited counsellors. The IACP is a self-regulating body. In the interim, until regulation becomes a reality, which I understand is a number of years away, although it is in train and is very welcome, the IACP has standards regarding the courses that are accredited, the members that are accredited, continuous professional development and supervision throughout their careers once they have become accredited members. The IACP is confident, as is the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP, in the UK, that its members are fully willing and absolutely able to provide this service.