Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Lobbying Organisation Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Date published 21 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026

Specific Details Raised serious concerns about elements in the CORU Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes published last year for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

Intended results For the Minister of Health to pause the CORU regulatory process for counsellors and psychotherapists to ensure that the Standards and Criteria are subject to a lawful, proportionate, and transparent regulatory process.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Lisa Molloy, Nicole Mac Dermott

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

The IACP met with the Minister for Health and members of her team in the Public Regulation Unit at the Department of Health regarding our concerns with the CORU Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training for Counsellors and Psychotherapists. Regina Doherty MEP gave opening remarks at the IACP's annual conference at the Johnstown Estate and we provided a brief update on the state regulation process.

Letter (1)

Follow-up letter to our meeting with the Minister highlighting action items.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister (Department of Health)

Claire O’ Cleary Chief Executive Officer (Department of Health)

Rachel Kenna Chief Nursing Officer (Department of Health)

Alesssandra Fantini Head of Unit (Department of Health)

Stephen Foley Special Adviser (Department of Health)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)