The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations amend the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (“the 2000 Regulations”) including clarification and updating of certain references. The 2000 Regulations partially implement, as respects Northern Ireland, Council Directive 97/43/Euratom (OJ No L180, 9.7.97, p 22) on health protection of individuals against the dangers of ionising radiation in relation to medical exposure.

Regulation 3(2)(a) inserts a definition of “appropriate authority”.

Regulation 3(2)(b) inserts a definition of “ethics committee”.

Regulation 3(2)(c) and (d) amends the definitions of “practitioner” and “referrer”.

Regulation 3(2)(e) inserts a definition of “registered health care professional”.

Regulation 3(2)(f) removes the definitions of “registered dental practitioner” and “registered medical practitioner”.

Regulation 3(2)(g) inserts a definition of “Regulation Improvement Authority”.

Regulation 3(4) clarifies that the word “record” in regulation 11(4) of the 2000 Regulations refers to the record of training undertaken (which the employer is required to keep and have available for inspection by the appropriate authority).

Regulation 3(5) replaces the Department as the enforcing authority for the purposes of the 2000 Regulations with the appropriate authority.

Regulation 4 is a transitional provision in relation to incomplete investigations, proceedings, appeals and other matters including notifications, under regulation 4(5) of the 2000 Regulations by employers, of incidents of overexposure. It provides for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to continue to be the appropriate authority for such matters.