Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Lobbying Organisation Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Date published 21 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Continued to raise 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 changes to be made to 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.

Letter (2-5)

The IACP wrote to the Minister for Health regarding our concerns with the CORU Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training for Counsellors and Psychotherapists. We requested that she carry out the Proportionality Directive in accordance with EU requirements, as set out by a legal opinion from senior counsel.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Minister Butler and Ian Power updating them on our concerns with the CORU Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training for Counsellors and Psychotherapists. Asked for their support in our efforts to have the Proportionality Directive carried out by the Minister for Health in accordance with EU requirements, as set out by a legal opinion from senior counsel.

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)

Stephen Foley Special Adviser (Department of Health)

Mary Butler Minister of State (Department of Health)

Ian Power Adviser to Minister of State (Department of Health)