About PHECC > Council > Committees > Accreditation

The Accreditation Committee is a Sub-Committee of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council. 


The Accreditation Committee makes recommendations to Council in the area of policy and procedure regarding Education and Training Standards.

The duties of the Accreditation committee include making recommendations to Council in relation to:
  • Recognition of training institutions for education and training in Emergency Medical Technology
  • Approval of the content of education and training courses run by recognised Training Institutions.
  • Setting the standards for National Examinations in Emergency Medical Technology leading to the award of the National Qualification. Auspicing an Appeals process for National Examinations, and to ratify National Examination results.
  • Ratification of the Recognition of Equivalence of Professional Qualifications obtained outside the State in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, and auspice an Appeals process.
  • Setting the standards for the entry onto, and maintenance on, the PHECC Register.
  • Auspicing Appeals and Fitness to Practice processes for the PHECC Register, and to ratify names for entry onto, and maintenance on the PHECC Register.
Terms of Reference
To officially recognise training institutions for the education and training of Emergency Medical Technicians.

To approve the content of education and training courses run by accredited Training Institutions.

To set the standards for the education and training of Emergency Medical Technicians in the State.

To assess, not less than once in every three years-

  • the suitability of the education and training in pre-hospital emergency care provided by an institution recognised by the Council for such purpose.
  • the standards of theoretical and practical knowledge required for qualifications in pre-hospital emergency care.
  • To ratify examination results.
  • To ratify equivalence of professional qualifications in pre-hospital emergency care obtained outside the State.

Committee Membership



The membership of the Accreditation Committee is approved to reflect a role as an industry group and, where the membership is generic as in representing a position or an organisation, Council need not individually approve membership should there be a change in the individual occupying the position or representing the organisation.

1. A representative of consumers (e.g. Patient Focus, Irish Patients Association
- Mr. Stephen McMahon , Irish Patients Association

2. A representative from a non-government organisation (NGO) with a community focus.
- Ms. Sarah Cain, Irish Heart Foundation

3. Training representatives from each of the Training Institutions accredited by the PHECC
- Mr. Macartan Hughes, Director, NATS
- Mr. Terry Kearney, DFB-RCSI Training Istitution

4. A representative from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service analogous to (3)
- Dr. David McManus, Medical Director

5. An invited expert in education and training, nursing.
- Ms. Ursula Byrne, An Bord Altranais

6. An invited expert in education and training, medical.
- Prof. Paul Finucane

7. Paramedics x 3 (from Council).
- Mr. Gerry Tuohy
- Mr. Michael Dineen
- Frank O'Malley

8. The Chairs of both the Clinical Care Committee and the Medical Advisory Group (generic).
- Mr. Frank O'Malley, Chairman CCC
- Mr. Cathal O'Donnell, Chairman MAG

9. The Chair and Vice Chair of Council (generic).
- Mr. Tom Mooney
- Ms Valerie Small

10. A management representative and registered nurse from Council where not already a member by way of 1-9 above.
- Mr. Barry O'Brien
- Ms Valerie Small

11. An invited expert in adult education.
- Dr. Ted Fleming

12. Other
- Ms. Patricia FitzPatrick

With a Member of Council as Chair (by election).
- Mr Michael Garry

To contact the accreditation committee email: accreditationcommittee@phecc.ie


Accreditation Committee Meeting Minutes 
March 2010
June 2010 TBA


Accreditation Committee Meeting Archive

Dec 2009
Sept 2009

June 2009
March 2009

December 2008
April 2008
February 2008
December 2007
September 2007
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