Council Members

Professor Murphy has extensive clinical, academic, and governance experience spanning 30 years and is a senior clinician in an acute hospital setting. She was a research fellow at the University of Oxford, Consultant Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol, Professor and Head of Department at the University of Dundee, and currently holds the Chair of Obstetrics at Trinity College Dublin and the Coombe Hospital. She has chaired international funding award committees, research ethics and the Guideline and Audit Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She obtained a first-class honours MSc degree in Healthcare Leadership, has been an expert medical witness and independent assessor for over 20 years and is an internationally recognised expert in her field.

She is a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist with responsibility for the High Dependency ward on the high security unit of the Central Mental Hospital Dublin, Ireland. She is Clinical Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychiatry Trinity College University of Dublin and she lecturers in Forensic Psychiatry University College Dublin (UCD). She is also a visiting Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at University of Bari Aldo Moro Italy. She is a member of the Medical Council of Ireland and currently Vice-President of the Medical Council of Ireland.

Sinéad combines exceptional leadership, management and transactional skills with specialist expertise across a range of disciplines including strategy development and implementation, change management, risk management, corporate & commercial, M&A, medico-legal, external affairs and public relations.Sinéad joined Bon Secours Health System, Ireland’s largest private hospital provider, in February 2020 as its Chief Legal, Corporate and External Affairs Officer and Company Secretary having acted as its lead external adviser for close to a decade. Sinéad oversees a diverse portfolio in Bon Secours Health System which includes responsibility for legal and risk management, corporate and external affairs and public relations. Sinéad is integral to delivery of a range of strategic initiatives and oversees the development of partnerships, acquisitions and joint ventures as part of implementation of Bon Secours Health System’s 2025 Strategic Plan. Sinéad holds a BCL (Hons) from UCC, is a practising Solicitor and is qualified to practise in Ireland and in England and Wales. Sinéad was also the recipient of the Findlater Scholarship awarded by the Law Society of Ireland.

A Fellow of both Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Mr. Drennan holds a Master’s Degree in Law (TU Dublin) as well as qualifications from University College Dublin (BSc. Police Leadership & Governance), the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School (Postgraduate Diploma, Corporate Governance), and the Honorable Society of King’s Inns (Advanced Diploma, Corporate, White-collar, and Regulatory Crime).

He is also former CEO of the Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority and former Auditor at the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General.

Dervila Eyures is committed to building public trust and promoting authentic co-production with people with lived experience to improve outcomes in the North East.

As IHA Manager, Dervila oversees community and acute services in Cavan and Monaghan and retains responsibility for the National Forensic Mental Health Service, following her previous role as Assistant National Director, Mental Health Operations.

With a background as a speech and language therapist, Dervila holds an MSc in Advanced Practice in SLT and further postgraduate qualifications in Health Economics, Corporate Governance, and Healthcare Leadership. She is also an EMCC-accredited Business and Executive Coach. Dervila is a current member of council of PHECC (Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council) and a member of the Secretariat of CAWT Cooperation and Working Together).

He is on the Specialist Register of anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine of the Medical Council of Ireland. His career reflects a sustained commitment to patient safety, professional standards, education, and fair medical regulation.

Dr Khan has held senior national leadership roles, including Vice President and Council Member of the College of Anaesthesiology of Ireland, Chair of the National Clinical Programme in Anaesthesia, Chair of CAI credential committee and membership of national training, governance, and audit bodies. He has extensive experience working with the HSE, postgraduate training structures, and regulatory frameworks, giving him a balanced understanding of both frontline clinical realities and system-level decision-making.

Education and professional development have been central to his work. Dr Khan is an experienced undergraduate and postgraduate teacher and examiner in Ireland, Europe, and internationally, and has played a key role in shaping examinations, fellowship programmes, and training standards. He has authored several peer-reviewed publications and led multiple audits and quality-improvement initiatives focused on patient safety and service improvement.

Standing for election to the Medical Council, Dr Khan is committed to strong, fair, and transparent regulation that protects patients, while also supporting doctors in their professional practice. He believes the Medical Council must remain independent, proportionate, and compassionate, with clear communication and due process at its core. If elected, he will bring experience, integrity, and a practical clinician’s perspective to represent doctors responsibly while upholding the highest standards of medical practice in Ireland.

She is principal investigator/partner/mentor on several Irish and European research funded projects in the area of college students mental health and wellbeing and Digital Healthcare solutions. She is currently President of the NMBI since January 2023 originally nominated by the Minister of Health as board member for the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) nursing representative since December 2015.

She contributes extensively to the global work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), particularly in the education and training of Radiation Therapists. In 2020, Professor Leech received the Emmanuel van der Schueren Award in recognition of her excellent scientific work and her significant contribution to ESTRO, particularly in the fields of education and the promotion of radiation oncology as a discipline. Professor Leech served as a member of the Radiographers Registration Board at CORU from July 2021 to February 2026.

She is chair of the Health Committee of the Medical Council. She is a registrant member of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee of Coru, a lay member of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, and a lay member of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council. She has previously served as a lay member of the Fitness to Practise Committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, and as chair of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. Jill was appointed to the Medical Council following a Public Appointments Service campaign and her first appointment is from 14 June 2021 to 31 May 2026.

She is currently chair of the Limerick Region Health Oversight Group. This is a multi-agency group, planning to implement the first Health Equity Region in Ireland and address health inequalities in Limerick city in the first instance.

She led the Mid-West Public Health response to the Covid -19 pandemic from March 2020 and the National Response to Covid in Meat Processing Plants (MPPs) for Ireland, developing the first guidance for management of Covid in MPPs in Europe. She led the development of the first regional pandemic public health communications in the country.

Her interests include addressing health inequalities, chronic diseases especially diabetes, environment and health, and workforce planning.

Dr Murphy led the development of a multidisciplinary paediatric overweight service and has contributed to national programmes focused on improving outcomes for children and families.

Alongside her clinical practice, she is actively involved in medical education and training and the support of development of doctors across the training continuum.  She serves as Head of subject of Paediatrics at the UCD School of Medicine and is the Regional Director for Post Graduate Medical Education and Training at Children’s Health Ireland. She is also a past Director of Education at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

Dr Murphy also brings extensive regulatory and accreditation experience through her work on the Medical Council of Ireland’s Education and Training Committee. This includes contributing to national standards, participating in accreditation processes, and supporting quality assurance in medical education and training.

She places a strong emphasis on clear communication, collaboration and building positive working relationships with patients, families and colleagues. Dr Murphy is committed to the medical profession and to the delivery of optimal, patient-centred care, with a focus on safety, professionalism and continuous improvement.

He is the recipient of the Kathleen Lynn medal, RCPI, for his contribution to Paediatrics in Ireland. He is the chairman of the Research Ethics Committee, the National Maternity Hospital. He is the editor of the Irish Medical Journal. He is the author of over 370 publications and the co-author of a number of text-books. He has a special interest in the design and safe implementation of clinical services.

He has extensive experience in many health management areas including Strategic Reform, Primary Care, National Service Planning, Budgetary and Governance. He has led out on several national health reform and innovation programmes, he has studied at the National University of Galway, the Institute of Public Administration and Maynooth University.

He holds the lead clinical role in his department with regard to education and training of junior trainees. He is currently the President of Association of Irish Pakistani Physicians and Surgeons (AIPPS) which advocates for issues directly relating to career and training of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) and provides them family and social support at a local level.

Prof O’Connell graduated from Dublin University in 1979, trained in Dublin and Cork and completed specialist training in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (1983) and holds honorary Fellowships of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (2001), the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2015), the Royal College of Surgeons of England (2019) and the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong (2019).

Prof O’Connell is a member of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, honorary fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (2015), past president (2013) and honorary member (2019) of the European Society of Coloproctology, elected member of the Society of Pelvic Surgeons and the International Surgical Group. He is an honorary fellow of the American Surgical Association (2015) and is an elected member and immediate past-President of the European Surgical Association. In 2022 he became the first international honorary member of the Japanese Society of Coloproctology.

Prof O’Connell has published widely in the areas of inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic floor physiology and colorectal cancer. His research has been recognised by numerous awards including the Patey Prize of the Surgical Research Society (1985), the British Journal of Surgery Prize at the Association of Coloproctology Great Britain and Ireland (1995, 1997, 1999, 2007), the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Research Prize (2007, 2010) and the Physiological Society (UK), (2009). He has held research grants from Science Foundation Ireland and the Health Research Board.

Prof O’Connell has been associate editor (1999-2002) and editor (2002-6) of the British Journal of Surgery. He was associate editor of Diseases of the Colon and Rectum (2001-2014) and is on the editorial board of several journals. He is joint editor of Bailey and Love’s Short Practice of Surgery (25th, 26th, 27th and 28th editions), Operative Surgery of the Colon, Rectum and Anus (6th edition and the European Manual in Coloproctology (2008 and 2017 editions). He has served as Associate Editor (2007-2009) and Editor in Chief (2010-13) for the European Surgical Association.

Prof O’Connell has given numerous invited lectures including the Bacon Lecture to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (2003), the Holmstrom Lecture at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden (2004), the Rankin Lecture at the Cleveland Clinic, USA (2004), the Sir Peter Freyer Lecture (2007), the Sir Alan Parks’ Lecture at St Mark’s Hospital, London (2007), the Hughes Lecture to the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (2007), the Robert Smith Lecture to ASGBI (2009), the Goligher Lecture to ACPGBI (2014), Conference Jean Denis to the Société Nationale Française de Colo-Proctologie (2017) and the GB Ong Lecture and Arthur Li Oration, Hong Kong (2019). He was the 2019 Hunterian Orator at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. In 2022 he delivered the Gimbernat Prize lecture to the Catalan Society of Surgery.

He was an associate Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and Its Application (AFIMA), a Chartered Fellow at the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (CFIOSH) and a Chartered Director and Fellow of Institute of Directors (CFIOD).

Martin was Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) for eleven years; 2007-2018 and served as a board Member for five years. He is a Teaching Fellow at the University of Limerick on Occupational Safety and Health and Management Systems.

He has lectured on Occupational Safety and Health and was external examiner at a number of colleges and universities on undergraduate and graduate programmes in OSH. (UCD, UCC, Trinity College Dublin, UL, Atlantic Technological University; Sligo).

He is currently Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Department of Social Protection (annual expenditure in the region of eur30 billion). He was Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) for three years; a college of the National University of Ireland (NUI), and he serves as President of the Institute until 2026. He was also a member of the Governing Council of the Irish Management Institute (IMI).

He currently serves on the Board of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and chairs the Regulation committee of the Board and is also a member of the National Patient Safety Council at the Department of Health.

He is a member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (LPDT); quasi-judicial tribunals dealing with complaints against members of the legal professions. He chairs divisions of the LPDT.

He worked in the Telecommunications Industry in Ireland and the UK (fixed and mobile networks) for more than twenty years and was general manager of a business unit with a workforce of more than 800 throughout the UK, with annual turnover exceeding £50 million.

He was also Eircom Group Safety Manager for six years. He was Chairman of the Association of Chief Executives of State Agencies (ACESA) with more than 100-member organisation from the state sector for four years.

He has served on a number of National and International (EU) committees and working groups on Occupational Safety and Health and European statistics, the National Emergency co-ordination group and Ministerial Committee on Road Safety.

He has published technical articles and written technical guidance in OSH. He has published two books The Lost Gaeltacht and The Bard of Cloghbrack, Michael Luke Pháidín. (bilingual).

He is a member of the Council of Meath Archaeological and Historical Society (MAHS). He is a native Irish speaker.

As the first Chair of the Dublin City University Research and Postgraduate Studies Committee (1989-1992), Professor O’Halpin oversaw the introduction of the university’s codes and procedures for postgraduate student supervision and examination, and appeals framework covering all academic research., and also the drafting of DCU’s first research ethics.

At Trinity College Dublin, Professor O’Halpin was the first Director of Post-Graduate Teaching and Learning (2004-2007) in the inter-disciplinary School of Histories and Humanities. He introduced processes for research student progression, training in best research practice, and final examination.

He contributed to the reformulation by TCD’s Graduate Studies Committee of the university’s research ethics policy and was a Board representative on the committee which drafted disciplinary regulations incorporated in the revised Statutes (2010). He chaired (2008-10) the Board’s Library and Information Policy Committee. This oversaw the revitalisation of policy relating to data privacy and the legal and ethical use of technology across the institution.

He also participated in oversight of TCD’s research framework and its ethical underpinnings.

Professor O’Halpin has long experience of public governance as an elected Board/Authority member in DCU (1992-199) and Trinity College Dublin (2005-2012, and 2015-2020). He served on the Council of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and previously chaired the RIA’s National Committee for the Study of International Relations, and National Committee for History. He was a member of a number of Irish and international academic editorial boards.

He is a 1981 graduate of University College Dublin Medical School. He obtained his pathology training at the Mallory Institute of Pathology/ Boston University School of Medicine and subsequently was appointed there on staff from 1991-1993.

His major interest is Quality Improvement in Medicine, particularly using Lean methodologies and he is an inaugural graduate of the Diploma in Leadership and Quality in Healthcare from RCPI (2012).

He was Clinical Director at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital from 2009 to 2014 and its first Clinical Director for Quality and Safety (2014-17). He was Clinical Director for Clinical Engagement and Quality (50% secondment) in Ireland East Hospital Group from 2017-2020.

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland - Faculty of Pathology: Board, multiple terms, Dean 2009-2011 .

RCPI : Treasurer 2011-2017. Director of Quality and Clinical Care 2017-2020. Chair, Steering Committee for the specialty quality improvement programmes in histopathology, radiology and endoscopy 2020-2023.

National Office of Clinical Audit: Chair, Governance Board 2016-2020. Inaugural clinical lead for quality improvement within this office 2022 to 2025.

He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Pathology and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Pathology, RCPI and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (FRCPI).

Relevant skill set for Council: Patient safety, quality improvement, standards and accreditation, clinical governance.

Dr O’Riordan was a member of the Ethics Committee that worked on the 9th edition of the Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners published in 2024. She chaired a working group established by the council to address the area of overprescribing of Benzodiazepines, Z drugs and Gabapentinoids. This was a multi-stakeholder group with representatives from the Department of Health, the HSE, the HPRA and the PSI and produced its report in February 2025

Dr O’Riordan has 33 years’ experience as a General Practitioner having worked in a rural Tipperary General Practice until my retirement in 2023.  She worked at a senior management level in the Irish College of General Practitioners as Medical Director from 2010 to 2016 and National Director for Specialist Training in General Practice from 2000 to 2010. She also served on the board of the Irish College of General Practitioners from 2019 to 2021 and was President of the Irish College of General Practitioners from 2020 to 2021. I served as a member of the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board from 2006 to 2008.

He is a former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and is a current member of the Medical Council of Ireland.

He has a Master of Education (M.Ed.), Clinical Teaching from the University of Leeds and a Master of Science (M.Sc.), Clinical, Hospital, and Managed Care Pharmacy from the University of Derby, as well as a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.), Pharmacy from the University of Bradford.

As a Senior Lecturer, and Professor at Imperial College, London, and at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, she has developed courses, taught and examined in clinical pharmacology, therapeutics, prescribing and medicine.

Particular research interests include hypertension, personalized medicine, and the sustainable production of nutrient-rich foods to ensure healthy diets for all. She has been awarded numerous grants and fellowships, and authored in excess of 160 publications. Important leadership roles include; Chairperson of the Irish Heart Foundation Council for High Blood Pressure (2002-2008), Convenor and Co-chairperson of the Beaumont Hospital Ethics (Medical Research) Committee (2007-2014), RCSI Director and Vice Dean of Intermediate Cycle (2013-2020), and Principal Investigator for a wide range of projects and clinical trials.

Aoife has been a member of Academic Council and currently sits on a number of Committees across the Institute. In 2021, Aoife received a Teaching Hero Award awarded by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and the Union of Students in Ireland. For twenty years, Aoife’s experience and research have focused on issues pertaining to social justice and human rights, particularly as they apply to vulnerable groups. Aoife has worked for the Office of the Inspector of Prisons, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Sutherland School of Law, UCD and Oberstown Children Detention Campus.

Aoife has previously been appointed as an Expert Member to the Office of the Inspector of Prisons and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture. She was a Committee Member on the All-Island Restraint Reduction Network and currently sits on the Rights Review Committee for a national Residential Services Provider. Aoife holds qualifications from University of Ulster (LLB Bachelor of Laws with Government), Queens University Belfast (LLM Human Rights and Criminal Justice, Cross-Border), University College Dublin (PhD in Law, where she was the inaugural Fitzpatrick Family Foundation Scholarship Awardee) and Dundalk Institute of Technology (post-graduate Certificate in Research Supervision).

He has a proven track record in leading global teams to deliver digital transformation. He is expert in many emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, and his key strength is in understanding and simplifying how technology opportunities can shape and enable strategic goals. Paul is a Board Member with The North Leinster Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and also sits on their Finance Audit and Risk Committee. He is a Committee Member with the National University of Ireland. He is an Ambassador with Argon & Co. Management Consultants. Paul holds numerous qualifications, including an MSc in Business (Leadership & Management Practice) and a Professional Diploma in Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics, from the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

Having worked on the frontline across tertiary and regional hospitals, Dr Hussain understands the professional and personal challenges faced by NCHDs, particularly those adapting to a new healthcare system. Through his leadership roles in doctors’ representative organisations, he has supported colleagues with professional development, career progression, wellbeing and integration into medical practice in Ireland.Dr Hussain believes that medical regulation should protect patients while also treating doctors with fairness, compassion and respect. As the NCHD representative, he is committed to listening to the experiences of doctors in training, ensuring their voices are heard and contributing to a regulatory system that is transparent, proportionate and humane.

She is a Chartered Certified Accountant, holds a Diploma in Corporate Governance from UCD, is a member of the Irish Tax Institute and is a member of the Institute of Directors. She brings senior leadership experience from both the private and public sector in Finance, Risk and Governance.