A vast array of professionals are currently, or are soon to be, regulated by statute including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, accountants, solicitors, teachers, and social workers. This 20 ECTS credit professional Diploma is designed to enable regulators, the regulated, and the employers thereof, and their representative bodies to become familiar with both the aims of regulation and the functions of regulators. The programme covers the nature of regulatory proceedings; the ethical dimension of professional behaviour; the implications of judicial review for fitness to practise hearings; and international developments in professional regulation.
The programme is delivered through two hour lectures, one evening a week over twelve weeks. The lectures take place in the William Fry Theatre in the UCD Sutherland School of Law.
The assessment strategy involves a combination of a written assignment (70%) and in-class presentations and reflections (30%).
NOTE: This Diploma is not running in 2021.
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, accountants, solicitors, teachers, and social workers.
How do I apply?
Go to www.ucd.ie/apply to make an application
To obtain further information and application details please contact:
Aine Ahern
Programme Administrator
T: +353 1 716 4112
The programme will feature lectures from staff of the College of Social Sciences and Law and will be co-ordinated by Adjunct Associate Professor Ciara McGoldrick, BL FCA.
Programme Structure
| Lecture One: | This lecture will examine the role of a regulator and the nature of regulatory proceedings (Professor Colin Scott). |
| Lecture Two: | This lecture will examine the development of professional regulation in Ireland (Professor Ciara McGoldrick). |
| Lecture Three: | This lecture will examine the nature of professional ethics and explore some of the distinctive ethical problems faced by professionals (Dr Chris Cowley). |
| Lecture Four: | This lecture will examine the functions of regulators other than fitness to practise proceedings (Professor Ciara McGoldrick). |
| Lecture Five: | This lecture will examine governance issues affecting regulators including accountability (Professor Ciara McGoldrick). |
| Lecture Six: | This lecture will examine the relevant principles of natural/constitutional justice includingconflicts of interest and the right of the professional to be heard (Dr Kevin Costello). |
| Lectures Seven, Eight and Nine: | These lectures will focus in detail on fitness to practice proceedings including the making of a complaint, screening, interim suspensions, mediation, disciplinary hearings, sanctions andpublication. These lectures will also consider the practical consequences of the obligation to apply the principles of natural/ constitutional justice in disciplinary proceedings (Professor Ciara McGoldrick and external speakers, identities to be confirmed). |
| Lecture Ten: | This lecture will examine High Court oversight of regulatory decisions (external speaker, identity to be confirmed). |
| Lecture Eleven: | This lecture will examine proposals for reform of fitness to practise proceedings and the various criticisms of the current regulatory regime (Professor Ciara Mc Goldrick). |
| Lecture Twelve: | Annual Professional Diploma in Professional Regulation Distinguished Guest Lecture (speaker to be confirmed). |