I want to sign off 2019 with a big thank you to everyone who has supported me in my first few months at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The best jobs in my view give you an opportunity to work with smart, passionate people. They also deliver opportunities, challenges and a scope to do better. I am delighted to say that from sessions with my team, my review of our operations and in my initial visits to our partners and peers in the sector I have not been disappointed. I am truly excited about the positive impact that we can make, together, during 2020.

The ARF deadline is 31 December 2019.

In preparation for the launch of a new digital system next year NMBI is no longer accepting payments by bank draft, postal money order, electronic file transfer, personal cheques or cash.

We would ask registrants to consider paying online through My Account.

For more information about using My Account please see our information page.

NMBI's 100 Years of Nursing Regulation in Ireland: Past, Present and Future conference took place on Thursday 24 October 2019 in the Clayton Hotel, Liffey Valley.

The conference opened with a video message from the Minister for Health, Simon Harris.

In his address the Minister said, “It is a great opportunity to reflect on where we started from 100 years ago and what has been achieved”.

There were a number of sessions throughout the day on topics such as:

• Regulation and changing healthcare
• Nursing regulation for the past 100 years
• Code of professional conduct and ethics for registered nurses and midwives
• The importance of regulation
• The future of regulation

More information about the event and presentations from speakers are available on the NMBI website at 100 Years of Nursing Conference.

NMBI is seeking expressions of interest from public interest representatives to participate in the work of the following committees: Midwives Committee, Registration Committee, Fitness to Practise Committee.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 10 January 2020.

Visit our website for more information.

The NMBI National Student Midwife Debate 2019 took place on Friday, November 29 at the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Over 90 people were in attendance. The event was also live streamed.

The motion for debate was: "This house believes that midwifery skills are being lost as technology is promoted in all stages of pregnancy, labour and birth.”

NMBI were invited to speak at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) annual conference in Manchester which took place on 24 - 25 September.

The presentation related to the development of a National Student Midwife Clinical Competency Assessment Tool.

The RCM was attended by over 2,500 midwives from all fields of midwifery practice (clinical, education, research, policy development and regulation).

Board Decisions in Cases of Convictions

In cases where a complaint is made to the Preliminary Proceedings Committee (PPC) concerning a conviction for a triable offence, the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 provides for the PPC to refer the complaint to the Board of NMBI for consideration. The Board has the option to cancel the registrant’s registration.

Decisions following Fitness to Practise Inquiries

The Board of NMBI has made a decision as to findings and sanctions arising from a complaint received under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011.

The decisions are published in full on NMBI's Findings and Decisions page.