Psychologists and social workers are among the 7,500 health professionals who must meet legally enforceable standards under a proposed new registration scheme.
Following a commitment from the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, to introduce statutory registration, the Department of Health and Children has circulated proposals to various professional bodies in preparation for the introduction of a new scheme.
The proposals state that while the scheme will be flexible, some people will be unable to continuing practising unless they can bring themselves up to the standards required for registration.
Complaints about professional misconduct or incompetence can be heard by a committee on fitness to practise, which will be able to strike people off the register for a particular profession.
For instance, a health committee would rule on cases in which a person is allegedly no longer able to practise due to addiction or ill-health.
Clinical biochemists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists and chiropodists are among those who will be regulated. Also on the list are people who work with children in care, such as staff in residential childcare units.
Each profession will have its own registration board, which will work to a registration council.
The discussion paper proposes that those who do not meet the standard be given the opportunity to bring themselves up to it.
The position of those who are unable to do so would be considered by their registration board and their employers, but "ultimately such persons would no longer be permitted to work within the profession."
They might still be allowed to work at a lower level of responsibility and perhaps under supervision, the paper says.
"However, this would occur only after the practitioner had been given a reasonable opportunity to update their qualifications and experience to the level required for registration," the paper states.
"This is a difficult area, with significant implications for some existing practitioners, and legal advice has been sought on the best way forward."
The system would be financed out of fees paid by people practising the regulated professions.
The Department is proposing that, under legislation, the Minister should have the power to make regulations bringing more professions into the system.