Appointments to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and 4 Registration Boards it oversees.

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has appointed/reappointed the following persons as members of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the Registration Boards it oversees.

Dr Justin Kerr

Dr Justin Kerr’s current role is Vice President for ATU Mayo and the Head of the School of Health Sciences, Wellbeing and Society. He leads multidisciplinary teams in the development and delivery of high-quality health and social care education programmes. His role involves strategic planning, curriculum design, and fostering interprofessional collaboration among health and social care disciplines, including nursing, social care, psychology and early childhood education and care. Through this position, Dr Kerr has developed a deep understanding of professional standards, accreditation processes, and regulatory requirements necessary for maintaining excellence in healthcare education and practice.

In addition to his leadership role, he has held senior management roles in healthcare, specialising in risk management and patient safety. These experiences have equipped him with an in-depth understanding of regulatory compliance. His ability to navigate complex healthcare environments and drive strategic initiatives ensures an effective contribution to the governance and oversight responsibilities of the board.

As a registered nurse, Dr Kerr possesses hands-on clinical experience in patient care. This background enables an appreciation of the integral role of dietitians in multidisciplinary healthcare teams. His dual expertise equips a holistic perspective that would be invaluable in shaping regulatory frameworks, ensuring professional competency, and safeguarding public health.

Dr Justin Kerr’s is appointed following nomination by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with effect from 2 June 2025 until 13 February 2029.

Dr Fatima Iftikhar

Dr Fatima Iftikhar is a qualified dietitian with a Doctor of Nutrition Sciences degree from Pakistan and over three years of clinical experience. She has worked across various specialties, with particular interest in weight management, diabetes, pre-diabetes, and cardiac rehabilitation. Since 2024, Dr Iftikhar has been working as a community dietitian in CHO 9 under the Enhanced Community Care: Chronic Disease Management programme.

Dr Fatima Iftikhar is appointed following a Public Jobs campaign with effect from 26 May 2025 until 13 February 2029.

Dr Caitríona Fisher

Dr Caitríona Fisher worked for many years in health product regulation, holding various positions in scientific regulatory assessments and, until her retirement from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), as Director of Quality, Scientific Affairs and Communications. She has a strong commitment to the patient voice in healthcare and developed the HPRA’s Patient Forum to ensure a patient-centred approach to regulating health products.

Caitríona qualified as a pharmacist with a B.Sc. (Pharm.) from Trinity College, Dublin where she also completed a Ph.D. in community pharmacy practice. In 2010, she was awarded an MBA from Reading University. Caitríona has been a board member of the Irish National Accreditation Board, a member of the EPA’s Health Advisory Committee and a member of the first governing body of Technological University Dublin.

Dr Caitríona Fisher is reappointed with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment with effect from 21 June 2025 until 13 February 2029.

Mr Hugh O’Donoghue

Hugh O’Donoghue is a barrister with extensive multi-jurisdictional experience in regulation. He is also a former solicitor associated with some prominent leadership roles in specialised committees of the Law Society. Mr O’Donoghue is an expert in judicial review, human rights and constitutional law. He is a member of the Law Library and of Mountford Chambers of Ely Place, London.

Mr Hugh O’Donoghue is appointed following a Public Jobs campaign with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This appointment is with effect from 16 May 2025 until 20 March 2027.

Dr Annemarie Bennett

Dr Annemarie Bennett is currently an Assistant Professor in Dietetics in Trinity College. She has a BSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics awarded by Trinity College and TU Dublin and completed her PhD with TU Dublin. She has experience in third-level teaching, particularly in relation to the practice education of health and social care students and is currently completing a Masters in Higher Education with Trinity College. She has research interests in education, health promotion, and cancer rehabilitation, and has also worked with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to produce national policies and documents that support policy implementation among food businesses and health professionals.

Dr Annemarie Bennett is appointed following nomination by the Dietitians Registration Board with effect from 16 April 2025 until 13 February 2028.

Miriam O’Callaghan

Miriam O’Callaghan has extensive experience in the HSE at senior operational level including area recruitment manager, project manager for the construction of the new Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore and hospital manager. She has a plethora of previous experience, as a member of boards; her chairmanship of national committees with sporting bodies, including a term as National President of the Camogie Association. Miriam is a trained investigator and has an Advanced Diploma in Personal & Executive Coaching. She holds a Diploma in Mediation & Conflict Resolution from NUIM. Miriam currently is a board member of Sport Ireland and the Physiotherapists Registration Board at CORU.

Miriam O’Callaghan is reappointed with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment with effect from 21 June 2025 until 20 June 2029.

Mr Hugh Farrell

Hugh Farrell has had an extensive career in health and social services, having held many middle and senior management positions with the Western Health Board (now HSE) in both community and hospital services and as regional manager with the Irish Wheelchair Association until his retirement. Hugh is keenly interested in health and social care, social inclusion and disability issues and is currently a member of the Social Workers and Physiotherapists Registration Boards. He is also a member of many voluntary organisations, as well as Finance and Audit and Risk Committees in the education sector.

Mr Hugh Farrell is reappointed with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment with effect from 21 June 2025 until 20 June 2029.

Dr John O’Mullane

Dr John O’ Mullane was a Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Clinical Biochemistry at CUH/UCC, a post he held from 2000 until his retirement in 2016. He was involved in the development of the joint undergraduate and joint post graduate programmes in Biomedical Sciences at University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (now Munster Technological University) He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists.

John has extensive board experience which includes membership of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council from 2007 to 2021 and the Medical Council from 2008 to 2013 among other roles on various committees. He was most recently a member of the Fitness to Practise sub-committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.

He was President and Vice President of the Association of Clinical Biochemists in Ireland. His research interests include analytical clinical biochemistry, laboratory diagnostics and education in clinical biochemistry having published in these areas. John holds the Professional Diploma in Professional Regulation from UCD’s Sutherland School of Law.

Dr John O’ Mullane is appointed following a Public Jobs campaign with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This appointment is with effect from 16 May 2025 until 10 March 2027.

Dr Joanna Fortune

Dr Joanna Fortune is a psychotherapist, supervisor, trainer and clinical consultant with over 25 years’ experience working in the field of mental health. She is the author of 4-books in this field and a featured author in three other books. She is a regular media contributor on topics related to mental health and is a recognised event/conference speaker in this field both in Ireland and internationally. Dr Fortune works clinically with adults but specialises in child and adolescent mental health, with a particular interest in dyadic (caregiver-child) psychotherapy.

Dr Joanna Fortune is appointed following a Public Jobs campaign with effect from 26 May 2025 until 24 February 2029.

Mr Peter Ledden

Mr Peter Ledden is a practising psychotherapist and psychiatric nurse with over thirty-five years’ experience in mental health. He is an accredited member of the ICP, the IAHIP, the IACP and registered with the NMBI. He is an accredited clinical supervisor with the IACP and the Supervisor’s Association of Ireland.

In 2003, Peter set up Abate Counselling & EAP and has served on the Board as CEO for the last twenty-two years. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Irish Health Services Management Institute (now HMI), the IACP, The Life coach Institute and Sophia Counselling, a charity which provides low-cost counselling. Peter has also been involved in the formal education of psychotherapists since 2003 on various accredited training courses.

Mr Peter Ledden is appointed following a Public Jobs campaign with effect from 26 May 2025 until 24 February 2029.

Ms Iseult White

Ms Iseult White is an IAHIP and ICP accredited psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher supporting diverse communities including minority sexuality, gender and neurodiverse individuals. She is Academic and Clinical Director of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Addiction at Dublin Business School, the author of The Mindfulness Workout, and a regular contributor to national radio on mental health topics.

Ms Iseult White is appointed following a Public Jobs campaign with effect from 26 May 2025 until 24 February 2029.