Appointment of Registered Pharmacists to the PSI Council

The PSI Council is the governing body (the board) of the PSI and it is made up of 21-members. The Pharmacy Act provides that some members of the Council are selected by pharmacists registered with the PSI, others are nominated by specified bodies such as the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), while others are selected on application through the Public Appointments Service. Irrespective of the route, each Council member is appointed by the Minister for Health to the PSI Council to act in the interests of patients and the public in the promotion of safe pharmacy practice in Ireland. Members are appointed to serve a four-year term.  

The Council is responsible for upholding the PSI’s mission, vision and values,  for ensuring the delivery of the functions of the PSI as the pharmacy regulator, and for developing and overseeing the PSI’s Corporate Strategy in the public interest. 

This information booklet is a useful resource. It outlines the statutory role of the Council, the extent of its responsibilities, and the commitment and requirements of Council members. It provides links to documents relevant to the role. 

The vacancies occurring for pharmacist members are those currently held by Council members Mr. John Given, Ms. Katherine Morrow, Mr. Rory O’Donnell, Ms. Marie Louisa Power and Mr. Sean Reilly whose terms of office end on 20 June 2025.  

Eligibility for election for appointment to the Council  

The 2025 election for the appointment of pharmacist members to PSI Council follows the requirements set out in the PSI (Council) Rules 2008 and 2015. Rule 7(2) of the Council Rules provides that: 

“In order to be eligible to stand for election for appointment to the Council, a member of the Society shall – 
a) hold a certificate of registration as a pharmacist (i.e. be in the Register of Pharmacists kept by the PSI and have paid registration fee for 2025) 
b) have been proposed and seconded in writing by members of the Society who hold certificates of registration as a pharmacist,  
c) submit, on a form available from the returning officer, a nomination paper that relates only to the person proposing to stand for election, specifying his or her name, address and registration number and signed by him or her, 
d) provide declarations that – 
 i. having regard to paragraphs (2)* and (8)** of Schedule 1 to the Act, he or she is eligible to stand for election for appointment to the Council, 
 ii. in the event of not being elected, he or she is aware that his or her name may be placed on a panel with a view to selection in the manner provided for under Rules 9(2) and 9(3) and Part 3 for the filling of any vacancies or casual vacancies as may arise on the Council, and 
 iii. in the event of being elected and appointed to the Council, he or she will, to the best of his or her abilities, serve on the Council and abide by any code of conduct for members of the Council as may be adopted by the Council from time to time.” 

* Disqualification from office includes being adjudicated bankrupt; making a composition or arrangement with creditors; conviction of any indictable offence; conviction of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty; being the subject of an order under sections 838, 842 and 850 of the Companies Act 2014, or being sentenced to a term of imprisonment. 
** Membership of either House of the Oireachtas or European Parliament by a Member of the Council (or employee) of the PSI disqualifies Council membership.  

After the nominations process is complete 

In accordance with Section 10(3)(f) of the Pharmacy Act 2007, pharmacist appointments to the Council are made following selection by those on the PSI Register of pharmacists. If the number of candidates nominated is greater than the five vacancies on the Council this year, then an election will be held on 16 April 2025. Following the election, the names of successful candidates will be submitted to the Minister for Health to appoint to the Council for a four-year term of office.    

• In addition to the information booklet, for more about governance of the PSI see also About the PSI and other relevant sections of this website, including the PSI’s Corporate Governance Framework.

• This appointment process is not run by Poist Phoiblí/Public Jobs, however, that website offers a general overview of the role and skillset of board members on state boards and is worth consideration.