Reappointment of the President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
Date published:
The Health Minister, Robbie Butler, has announced the reappointment of the President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (the Society).
Dr Geraldine O’Hare is to be reappointed from 1 November 2026 to a date not later than 31 October 2030.
The President of the Council is remunerated by an attendance fee. Attendance at meetings up to 4 hours duration attracts a fee of £168 and meetings over 4 hours £335. Training and induction days attract a fee of £168. The President role carries a time commitment equivalent to approximately 30 full working days per annum.
The procedure for this reappointment is not bound by the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland; however, this reappointment has been made in the ‘spirit of the Code’.
The Society was established by the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Northern Ireland) 1925 and has been based at 73 University Street, Belfast since 1933. It is the regulatory and professional leadership body for pharmacists in Northern Ireland. Its objectives are reflected in the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 and include, amongst other matters, to advance chemistry and pharmacy and promote pharmaceutical education and the application of pharmaceutical knowledge, while safeguarding the interests of the members in the Society in their exercise of the profession of Pharmacy. Through its work, the Society aims to protect the public and patients and maintain public confidence in the pharmacy profession. It maintains a register of over 3,000 pharmacists, just over 200 students, including Foundation Year Trainees, and over 530 pharmacy premises across Northern Ireland.
The Society’s Council comprises 14 Council Members (7 pharmacists/registrant members and 7 lay members).
Notes to editors:
- Dr Geraldine O’Hare is a Consultant Forensic Psychologist, Chartered and Registered Psychologist, and Chartered Scientist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Psychological Society of Ireland. A graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and the Universities of Ulster, Leicester and Roehampton, she spent 30 years as Head of Psychology Services and Director of Rehabilitation with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and now works independently across health and justice sectors in the UK, Ireland and abroad. Geraldine has a deep commitment to public service and the regulation of healthcare professionals. In addition to serving as President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, she chairs and serves on other regulatory bodies and professional boards, including as Chair of the Risk Management Authority in Scotland. Geraldine leads the UK Forensic Psychology Qualification, is Chief Forensic Assessor for the BPS and is a Churchill Fellow. Geraldine also holds a public appointment with TEO as Lay Member of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission, requiring 2-3 days per month and attracting attendance fees of £355.25 for over 4 hours per day and £177.63 for up to 4 hours per day.
- This reappointment to the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland was made by the Health Minister.
- All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. Dr O’Hare has declared that she has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
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