Press Statement

Irish Division - The Future

The Irish Division of Royal College of Psychiatrists met in Dublin last week to decide on its future role. As both the Irish Section (soon to be known as the Irish College of Psychiatrists) and the Northern Ireland Section have both adopted considerably more autonomy in the past year - the role of the all-Ireland Division needed to be clarified.

At the daylong meeting some key decisions were taken. The Executive Committees of both the Northern Ireland Section and the Irish Section will form the Executive Committee of the Irish Division. The Chair of the Division will be Dr. Colette Halpin until July 2003, followed by the person elected Chair of the Irish Section at that time. Consideration will then be given to the election of a Chairperson independent of both Sections.

The Irish Division Executive has agreed to meet twice annually and also run two two-day conferences each year - one in Spring and one in the Autumn. The first of these conferences will be held on the 27th and 28th March 2003. The two-day conferences will each have a specific focus with a high profile keynote speaker in support of the agreed theme. All psychiatric specialities will be catered for throughout the two days by way of inbuilt seminars, workshops and lectures.

The Division will focus on assessing and promoting areas of common interest to all psychiatrists on the island, with special emphasis on academics, training, research, funding and cross border projects. A special Cross Border Committee will examine all relevant potential in this specific area.

Further information;
Wally Young, Young Communications 01-6680530\087-2471520