Statement by the Returning Officer in respect of CORU Registration Boards Elections 2021

11 January 2021

In light of the current Level 5 national restrictions in place with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, and following careful consideration, the Returning Officer announces the postponement of the counting of ballots for the Occupational Therapists Registration Board, Optical Registration Board, and Physiotherapists Registration Board Elections 2021 on public health grounds. The counting of ballots was scheduled to commence today Monday 11 January 2021.

This decision was taken under Section 23 (1) of the Election of Members for Appointment Bye-Laws for the Registration Boards in question, which gives the Returning Officer the power to postpone and reschedule an election. This is in order to protect the health and safety of the election count staff and candidates who would wish to attend the count.

The postponement will have no effect on each Registration Board’s continuing duties of assessing and approving applications for registration, recognition and education approval.

Further information on a rescheduled date for the counting of ballots will be communicated directly to candidates and relevant stakeholders when available and will also be published on www.coru.ie. A decision on any rescheduled date will be guided by prevailing public health advice and government guidelines.

For any questions further to the above, the Returning Officer can be contacted via email on elections@coru.ie.

Thank you for your understanding at this time.

Further information:

Section 23 (1):

Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this bye-law, the Returning Officer may, in any case in which it appears to him that there is an emergency or special difficulty, make such changes or modifications of any of the procedures set out herein for the conduct of the Election (including but not limited to rescheduling, postponing, or curtailing the applicable times and suspending the application of all or any part of the procedures) as may in his opinion be necessary or desirable to enable such Election to be duly held, subject to compliance with the principles laid down in this bye-law taken as a whole.

P. Byrne
Returning Officer
11 January 2021