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The Council comprises these 37 members:

  • 11 primary teachers, nine of whom are elected and two of whom are teacher union nominees
  • 11 post-primary teachers, seven of whom are elected and four of whom are teacher union nominees
  • 2 nominated by colleges of education
  • 2 nominated by specified third-level bodies
  • 4 nominated by school management (two primary and two post-primary)
  • 2 nominated by parents’ associations (one primary and one post-primary)
  • 5 nominated by the Minister for Education, including one representing each of IBEC and ICTU.

Council Members

Appointment of members to the Teaching Council

The Council has 37 members of whom 16 of these are registered teachers who are elected by teachers, 16 are nominated by various bodies specified in the Teaching Council Acts, 2001-2015, and five are nominated by the Minister. All 37 are appointed by the Minister.

The members of the Teaching Council are:

Members of the Teaching Council

  • Michelle Keane

    Michelle Keane

    (Chairperson) Elected - Primary - Dublin

  • Ann Mulcahy

    (Deputy Chairperson) Elected - Post Primary - ETB - South

  • Jean Beswick Duignan

    Jean Beswick Duignan

    Nominee - TUI

  • Kathleen Burke

    Kathleen Burke

    Elected - Post-primary - Voluntary Sector - Connaught, Munster & Ulster

  • Gráinne Conachy

    Gráinne Conachy

    Nominee - Ministerial Appointee

  • Noel Cronin

    Noel Cronin

    Elected - Post primary - ETB Sector - Leinster

  • Mary Curley

    Elected - Primary - Munster

  • Michael Delargey

    Nominee - Ministerial Appointee ICTU

  • Eamon Dennehy

    Eamon Dennehy

    Nominee - ASTI

  • Dr Niamh Dennehy

    Dr Niamh Dennehy

    Nominee - UCC

  • Catherine Doolan

    Elected - Primary - Leinster

  • Niall Duddy

    Niall Duddy

    Elected - Post Primary - Voluntary Sector - Connaught, Munster & Ulster

  • Dr Declan Fahie

    Dr Declan Fahie

    Nominee - UCD

  • Catherine Cross

    Nominee - Post-primary

  • Prof Niamh Hourigan

    Nominee - MIC

  • Anne Howard

    Elected - Community and Comprehensive Sector - All of Ireland

  • Rosena Jordan

    Rosena Jordan

    Elected - Primary - Connaught/Ulster

  • Gerry Leydon

    Gerry Leydon

    Nominee - Ministerial Appointee

  • Anne Loughnane

    Anne Loughnane

    Nominee - ASTI

  • Áine Lynch

    Nominee - NPC - Primary

  • Mary Magner

    Mary Magner

    Nominee - INTO

  • Peter McCabe

    Peter McCabe

    Elected - Primary - Dublin

  • Fergal McCarthy

    Fergal McCarthy

    Nominee - ACCS

  • Paul Moroney

    Paul Moroney

    Elected - Primary - Munster

  • Catherine Moynihan

    Catherine Moynihan

    Nominee - JMB

  • Seán Ó hArgáin

    Seán Ó hArgáin

    Nominee - Gaeloideachais

  • Prof Teresa O'Doherty

    Prof Teresa O'Doherty

    Nominee - MIE

  • Ciaran James O'Donnell

    Ciaran James O'Donnell

    Elected - Post Primary - ETB - Connaught, Munster and Ulster

  • Seán Ó Dubhlaing

    Seán Ó Dubhlaing

    Elected - Primary - Leinster

  • Séamus Ó Fearraigh

    Nominee - TUI

  • Liam Ó Néill

    Liam Ó Néill

    Nominee - Ministerial Appointee

  • Seán O'Neill

    Seán O'Neill

    Elected - Post Primary - Voluntary Sector - Leinster

  • Bryan O'Reilly

    Nominee - CPSMA

  • David O'Sullivan

    David O'Sullivan

    Nominee - INTO

  • Eamonn Shaughnessy

    Eamonn Shaughnessy

    Elected - Primary - Connaught/Ulster

  • Tracie Tobin

    Tracie Tobin

    Elected - Primary - Munster

Council Committees

In order to facilitate its work, the Council has established a number of committees, groups and panels. Details of the functions and membership of each of these are set out below.

The Audit and Risk Committee evaluate the effectiveness of the Teaching Council’s internal control procedures, including the internal audit function.

Responsibilities include:

  1. Financial reporting
  2. Risk management arrangements
  3. The Council’s system of internal control
  4. Internal and external audit functions
  5. Financial reporting
  6. Protected disclosures

The Audit and Risk Committee is composed of the following members:

  • David O’Sullivan (Chairperson)
  • Ciarán O’Donnell
  • Gráinne Conachy
  • Kathleen Burke
  • Liam Gallagher
  • Seán Ó hÁrgáin

A panel of the Disciplinary Committee will conduct a hearing on a complaint referred to it by the Investigating Committee. This hearing is conducted in accordance with Section 43 and Schedule 3 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001, and the associated rules and procedures which have been drawn up by the Council. Based on the hearing, the panel may make a finding of unfitness to teach, or it may dismiss the application. The panel makes its report to the Disciplinary Committee.

Where a finding of ‘unfitness to teach’ is reached, the Committee applies an appropriate sanction which may involve withdrawal of registration on a temporary or permanent basis or continuing registration subject to a number of conditions.

The Disciplinary Committee is composed of the following members

  • Tracie Tobin (Chairperson)
  • Áine Lynch
  • Anne Howard
  • Catherine Doolan
  • Declan Fahie
  • Fergal McCarthy
  • Gerry Leydon
  • Kathleen Burke
  • Mary Magner
  • Noel Cronin
  • Paul Moroney
  • Seán O’Neill

The committee will advise the Council and make recommendations in the following areas:

  • Standards of entry to the teaching profession – The requirements for entry to programmes of initial teacher education in the State.
  • Practice of teaching – The review of standards of knowledge, skills and competence required for the practice of teaching.
  • Teaching qualifications – Including the development of criteria and procedures for review and accreditation.
  • New entrant induction – Matters relating to the induction of new members to the profession.
  • Liaison and consultation with the Registration Committee – in respect of bullets 2, 3 and 4 above.
  • Teachers’ learning (CPD) – the promotion of the professional learning of teachers and the review and accreditation of programmes of professional learning (CPD) in accordance with section 39 (when commenced) of the Acts.
  • Codes of Professional Conduct – The drafting and review of codes of professional conduct for teachers, in collaboration with the Investigating and Disciplinary Committees. The committee will be particularly cognizant of the Council’s obligations under section 7.2. of the Acts.
  • Research – The development, implementation and review of the Council’s research strategy.
  • Approve the use of professional expertise from time to time, to assist the Qualifications Panel and the review and accreditation process.

The committee has also been delegated authority by Council to prepare submissions and reports on educational issues in line with agreed Council policy

The Education Committee is composed of the following members:

  • Seán O’Neill (Chairperson)
  • Catherine Doolan
  • Catherine Moynihan
  • Jean Beswick Duignan
  • Kathleen Burke
  • Gráinne Conachy
  • Noel Cronin
  • Niamh Dennehy
  • Mary Magner
  • Paul Moroney
  • Liam Ó Néill
  • Seán Ó hÁrgáin
  • Teresa O’Doherty

The Council’s Evidence of Character Panel assesses the Evidence of Character of applicants seeking to register as teachers with the Council. It does so in line with guidelines which have been approved by the Council.

Where the Panel decides that an applicant’s evidence of character renders her/him unsuitable for registration purposes, the Panel will notify the applicant of its decision, the reasons for that decision and the courses of action open to the applicant at that point. The Panel then prepares a report for the attention of the Registration Committee.

The Evidence of Character Panel is composed of the following members:

  • Seán Ó Dubhlaing (Chairperson)
  • Anne Loughnane
  • Bryan O’Reilly
  • Ciarán O’Donnell
  • Liam Ó Néill
  • Niamh Hourigan
  • Tracie Tobin

The Executive Committee facilitates the efficient and effective functioning of the Council. Its functions are set out in Section 26 of the Teaching Council Acts 2001, as amended. In addition to its legislative functions the Executive Committee have oversight of the promotion of the profession, the Council communication strategy and proposed legislative amendments.

The Executive Committee is composed of the following members:

  • Michelle Keane (Chairperson)
  • Anne Loughnane
  • Ann Mulcahy
  • David O’Sullivan
  • Fergal McCarthy
  • Gráinne Conachy
  • Michael Delargey
  • Rosena Jordan
  • Séamus Ó Fearraigh
  • Seán O’Neill
  • Teresa O’Doherty

The Finance Committee oversees the Council’s financial affairs including the preparation of the annual budget, the ongoing monitoring of income and expenditure and the Council’s general administrative arrangements.

Its functions include:

  • Reviewing and reporting on the financial affairs of the Council
  • Considering the annual budget
  • Reviewing actual income and expenditure against the budget at regular specified intervals during the annual budget cycle and ensuring a revised budget is prepared where necessary
  • Supervising the disbursement of funds
  • Reviewing and making recommendations with respect to the Council’s fees
  • Liaising with and preparing accounts for the auditors.

The Finance Committee is composed of the following members:

  • Ann Mulcahy
  • Eamon Dennehy
  • Fergal McCarthy
  • Gerry Leydon
  • Niamh Hourigan
  • Seán Ó Dubhlaing
  • Séamus Ó Fearraigh

The Council or any person may apply to the Investigating Committee for an inquiry into the fitness to teach of a registered teacher where:

  • The teacher has failed to comply with or has contravened the Teaching Council Act, 2001, the Education Act, 1998, the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, the VEC Acts, 1930 to 1999, or any regulation, rules or orders made under those Acts
  • The teacher’s behaviour constitutes professional misconduct as defined by the Teaching Council Act, 2001
  • The Teacher’s registration is erroneous due to a false or fraudulent declaration or misrepresentation or
  • She or he is medically unfit to teach.

The Council will not routinely become involved in day-to-day contractual or disciplinary matters, or in hearing complaints which can be more appropriately dealt with at local level.

When it is deemed appropriate to do so, the Committee will refer an application to the Disciplinary Committee.

The Investigating Committee is composed of the following members:

  • Ann Mulcahy (Chairperson)
  • Anne Loughnane
  • Bryan O’Reilly
  • Catherine Moynihan
  • Eamonn Shaughnessy
  • Mai Fanning
  • Mary Curley
  • Michael Delargey
  • Niall Duddy
  • Peter McCabe
  • Séamus Ó Fearraigh

The Qualifications Panel is composed of the following members:

  • Eamonn Shaughnessy (Chairperson)
  • Declan Fahie
  • Jean Beswick Duignan
  • Michael Delargey
  • Niall Duddy
  • Teresa O’Doherty
  • Tracie Tobin

The Registration Committee advises the Council and makes recommendations in all areas relating to the registration of teachers by the Council. This work includes advising and making recommendations on:

  • The regulations governing registration
  • The processes for implementing such regulations
  • The process used for the review of panel decisions
  • The composition and terms of reference of Primary and Post-primary Applications Panels and the Evidence of Character Panel
  • The appointment of assessors to assist the Applications Panels and the Review of Decision process
  • Advising the council on the form of certification to be issued
  • Criteria and guidance for the assessment of qualifications for registration purposes
  • Issues relating to Evidence of Character and probation.

In addition, the Registration Committee, acting on behalf of the Council, reviews registration application decisions made by the Primary and Post-primary Applications Panels and the Evidence of Character Panel, where so requested by the applicant. It does this in accordance with the Review of Decision process adopted by the Council.

The Registration Committee is composed of the following members:

  • Rosena Jordan (Chairperson)
  • Anne Howard
  • Ciarán O’Donnell
  • Eamon Dennehy
  • Fergal Mc Carthy
  • Gerry Leydon
  • Gráinne Conachy
  • Mai Fanning
  • Mary Curley
  • Niall Duddy
  • Niamh Hourigan
  • Peter McCabe
  • Seán Ó hÁrgáin

The Registration panel consists of seven members and meet once a month to consider extension request forms submitted by teachers who are seven years or more on the register and who have not addressed their condition(s). The Head of Registration can also refer teachers to the Registration Panel.

The Panel can extend , defer, or refuse to grant an extension of time based on the extension request form the teacher has submitted along with their supporting documentation.

The Registration Panel is composed of the following members:

  • Eamon Dennehy (Chairperson)
  • Gráinne Conachy
  • Niamh Dennehy
  • Seán Ó Dubhlaing
  • Séamus Ó Fearraigh
  • Liam Ó Néill
  • Mary Magner