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Regulation and ComplianceWhat is the regulation on massage in Ireland? What does self-regulation mean? What is the IMTA doing about State regulation? GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation What is the regulation on massage in Ireland?In Ireland, massage is a self-regulating industry i.e. it is regulated through acknowledgment of membership of an organisation such as the IMTA. It is further regulated by insurance companies. As per recommendations of the Garvey National Working Group Report on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists 2005, the State does not regulate the massage industry. What does self-regulation mean?While the IMTA is recognised by the State, the industry is self-regulating. The self-regulating approach is not only in Ireland but in many other European countries and other complementary therapies. We, and many other associations in Ireland, such as the herbalists, are members of FICTA (Federation of Irish Complementary Therapy Associations)and EFCAM (European Federation for Complementary and Alternative Medicine). These umbrella organisations campaign both in Ireland and Europe for further acknowledgements for therapists. FICTA and EFCAM also look for any regulations at national and EU level that may affect therapists and act on them if needed. Member associations, such as the IMTA, will keep their members advised of any changes. GDPR - General Data Protection RegulationGDPR is a new set of rules enforced 25 May 2018, designed to give EU citizens more control over their personal data and make organisations more transparent in how they deal with people's data. This applies to all organisations, from sole traders and small businesses to multinational corporations and governing bodies - anyone who deals with people's data. The reforms bring in laws and obligations mainly around personal data, privacy and consent. Every individual is entitled to have their personal information protected, used in a fair and legal way, and made available to them when they ask for a copy. If an individual's personal information is incorrect, they are entitled to ask for that information to be corrected. An individual's data may not be shared without their express consent and any communication with them must also be consented in a positive way (i.e. by opting in). Under the terms of GDPR, organisations have to ensure that personal data is gathered legally and under strict conditions, and those who collect and manage it are obliged to protect it from misuse and exploitation, as well as to respect the rights of data owners (in our case, our clients). Members of the IMTA are required to be compliant with the law, and the Association provides its members with support for putting in place privacy policy and procedures for data protection. Further information: Health and Safety
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) provide a free online risk assessment procedure for business owners. BeSMART.ie - Business electronic Safety Management And Risk assessment Tool - will help business owners to prepare risk assessments and a safety statement for their workplace. It is easy to use and is designed to reduce the chances of an accident occurring in the workplace. The IMTA recommends its members carry out an online Risk Assessment and set out their Safety Statement to ensure they are providing treatments that are safe and effective. As well as determining what First Aid training the therapist may need for their practice, this document is meant to keep them aware of the risks to themselves and to their clients, or anyone else visiting their premises. Foreign QualificationsNARIC is one of a network of centres that forms part of the ENIC-NARIC (European Network of Information Centres / National Academic Recognition Information Centre) network. These centres work to enable the mobility, transparency and recognition of qualifications by providing information on education, training and qualifications. Hosted by QQI, NARIC Ireland provides free advice on the recognition of foreign qualifications in Ireland. The NARIC Ireland qualifications database has details of almost 1200 qualifications from over 140 countries. They offer advice online in the form of a Comparability Statement which places the foreign qualification in the context of the Irish academic and training system. A Comparability Statement from NARIC on an applicant's qualifications will assist our Education Committee understand those qualifications and help speed up the decision process for the applicant. |
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