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Rules

The Society’s constitution

Constitution as amended at the Annual General Meeting in 1992, 1996, 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2024.

1. Name

This society shall be known as the Irish Society of Community and Public Health Medicine.

2. Objectives

The objectives of this Society are:

  1. To promote, advance and encourage the practice of Community and Public Health Medicine.
  2. To promote and encourage enhancement of knowledge sharing based on recent evidence to guide Community Medicine and Public Health Medicine.
  3. To assist in obtaining better working conditions and facilities for its members.

3. Membership

The Society shall consist of ordinary members, honorary members, life members, and such other members as the Society may from time to time determine.

  1. Ordinary members shall be restricted to registered medical practitioners engaged in the practice of Community and Public Health Medicine. They include members who are permanent or temporary and those who hold a job-sharing post.
  2. Honorary membership may be conferred by the Society, on the recommendation of the Council, on any person who has rendered distinguished service in the practice of Community and Public Health Medicine. It does not confer the right to vote.
  3. Life members may be elected by the Society, on the nomination of the Council, from ordinary members on retirement from active work, without further payment of subscription and without the right to vote.

4. Management of the Society

The Honorary Officers of the Council shall consist of the President, two Vice Presidents (incoming and out-going), one or more Honorary Secretaries, the Treasurer, and such other officers as may from time to time be advisable.

The management of the affairs of the Society is vested in Council, subject to the control of the Society. Council consists of the five officers together with two members from each of the divisional areas, ten delegates in all, making a total of 15. If a nominated delegate cannot attend, they may appoint a substitute from within their division.

Council may co-opt not more than two members, bringing the total to seventeen. Members from the divisional areas are nominated by the areas in question, and their names are sent to the Honorary Secretary each year within one month after the Annual General Meeting.

The divisional areas are:

  • North Eastern: Louth, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford, Meath and Westmeath.
  • South Leinster: Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Wexford, Offaly, Laois, Waterford and South Tipperary.
  • Western: Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal.
  • Munster: Cork, Kerry, Clare, North Tipperary and Limerick.
  • Metropolitan: Dublin.

At the Annual General Meeting, members elect the Vice-President, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer by a show of hands or by ballot. The incoming Vice-President becomes President Elect and holds office for two years. In the event of a tie, the matter is decided by the casting vote of the Chairman.

5. Meetings

  1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Society not more than eighteen months after the preceding one, at such place as Council shall determine.
  2. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by Council, or on the request of not fewer than twelve members in good standing, with 21 days’ notice.
  3. An informal meeting may be called by the Secretary in consultation with the President at any time.

6. Alteration of the Constitution

The Constitution may only be altered at the Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting called for this purpose. Proposed alterations must be notified to each member at least 14 days before the meeting at which they will be discussed.

7. Bye-laws

Officers

  • The Officers are elected at the Annual General Meeting.
  • The President holds office for two years, and the incoming Vice-President becomes President Elect and holds office for two years. The outgoing President holds office for one year.
  • The Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer are eligible for re-election annually.
  • If more than twelve months pass without an Annual General Meeting, the Officers and Council continue in office until the next one. Outgoing officers remain in office until the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting.

Council

  • Council is limited to seventeen members.
  • Council may appoint standing or special committees during its term and appoint any member of the Society to them. The Chairman of each committee must be a member of Council.

Nomination of officers

Nominations must be signed by a proposer and seconder, accompanied by the nominee’s written consent, and delivered to the Honorary Secretary at least 14 days before the Annual General Meeting. Each candidate, proposer and seconder must be an ordinary member in good standing. The Honorary Secretary circulates the names of candidates to all members within seven days of the meeting.

Election of members

  • New members may be elected at any Council or General Meeting, provided due notice and the candidates’ names are given with the agenda and Council is satisfied with their qualifications.
  • Honorary members may be elected at any General Meeting on the recommendation of Council. They do not pay a subscription and have no vote.
  • Members whose subscriptions are two years in arrears cease to be members.

Meetings

Meetings are held at such time and place as Council decides, with notice and agenda circulated at least ten days beforehand. Council meets at least once a quarter, and five members form a quorum.

Finance

  • The financial year is confirmed at each Council meeting and ends on 31 December.
  • Payment of accounts is confirmed at each Council meeting and made by cheque signed by the Treasurer.
  • The annual subscription falls due on 1 January each year. It may be changed at the Annual General Meeting, provided due notice is given.
  • Council arranges for an annual audit of the accounts by two members of the Society appointed at a general meeting.

Trustees

The Trustees are ex-officio members of Council: the President, the Honorary Treasurer and the Honorary Secretary for the time being. All property of the Society is vested in the Trustees for the time being.