Architects' Alliance Open Meeting of Self-taught Architects in Ireland

 This is to be an Open Meeting for all disenfranchised architects - which includes those with relevant third level qualifications, membership of professional construction industry bodies and those who are entirely self-taught.  However, any Grandfather Clause is expected to be limited to those who have made their livings as architects for over 7/10 years, whether salaried or self-employed.

Last month the Registrar wrote to every Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas stating:

"Unfortunately, research carried out by the RIAI has indicated that there are over 500 practitioners who are not included on the Register but who are still offering services to the public under the title ‘architect’."

Taking the figure of 500 practitioners with other figures from RIAI Ltd, it means that 50% of architectural businesses in the State have been criminalised through the new Statutory Registration regime.

It is time for every politician to be made aware of the harm this discriminatory law has done to our livelihoods - done at a time when there are no alternative work prospects for mature, self-taught architects.

THE STATUTORY REGISTRATION OF ARCHITECTS

- Part 3, The Building Control Act 2007-

The Meeting is called to promote the Alliance Lobbying Campaign and to address the recently launched "RIAI Compliance Campaign":-

• The Royal Trinity - Private Company, Statutory Registration Body & Competent Authority
• The Compliance Assertions made by RIAI (Ltd)
  
• The RIAI "Form of Undertaking Not to Use the Title"
• The Failure of the Technical Assessment Process
  
• The current and incomplete Status of Registration under the Law
  
• The Alliance Campaign for a Grandfather Clause Amendment to the Act
• Alliance Political Support
• Lobbying of Politicians
  
• Your Questions about Registration
  
• Next Steps
  

Questions tabled in advance will be collated and given priority - email these with the subject "Questions" to spokesperson@architectsalliance.ie

The achievement of our aims depends upon the support of self-taught architects and we look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Under Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 it is an offence for a person in business to use the title "architect" (or so-called "cognate terms") unless that person is registered in accordance with the Act.
The Act itself should be read for a proper understanding of the new regime.

Part 3 of the Act includes:-

The entirely new statutory registration of architects;  the protection of the title "architect" and all cognate terms - except those specified as being conditionally permitted;  an automatic right to be registered for certain classes of person (principally MRIAI);  a costly, once-only "technical assessment" process for other classes of persons (long-established, self-taught architects);  an extremely costly, permanent architects' registration examination for non-graduates, an appeal system, criminal penalties and overall control granted to the RIAI.

Previous Open Meetings addressed:-

The Registration Body;  the Present Status of Part 3;  Technical Assessment (the Application Fee, the Methodology - RPL & "Learning Outcomes");  the "Pilot Scheme";  the EC Directive;  Architect's Certificates;  the "Minister's List";  the Competition Authority Report on Architects;  Article 45.2 of The Constitution; Undisclosed and Exceptional Procedures;  Inconsistencies and Other Faults;  Treatment of Other Newly Regulated Professions;  The General Law;  Ministerial Obligations;  Conflicts of Interest;  Consumer Protection;  Directive 2005/36/EC;  Next Steps.

NOTES:

The Alliance web site has considerable information about registration and our campaign for justice -

http://www.architectsalliance.ie/

Our Regional Officers are:-

Margaret Kirwan  087 939 6512 - Clare, Offaly, Limerick, Tipperary

Michael Cummins  086 261 8034 - Kerry, Cork, Waterford

Adrian Turner  087 902 2193 - Roscommon, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Westmeath, Longford, Leitrim

Eamonn Weber  087 230 3449 -    Dublin, Kildare, Meath

Ray O'Reilly  087 224 7787 - Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth

Brian Montaut  01 286 0497 -  Wicklow, Wexford,  Kilkenny, Laois, Carlow

A bound copy of the Report on Architects may be obtained (until now without charge) from the Competition Authority or downloaded from -

http://www.tca.ie/PromotingCompetition/MarketStudies/Professions/Architects/Architects.aspx

 A copy of the Act may be bought from the Government Stationery Office in Dublin or downloaded from -

http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/

An informative background to registration in the UK may be read at:-

http://www.wikepedia.org/wiki/Architects_Registration_in_the_United Kingdom

IMPORTANT

Admission is by ticket as indicated above.  The organisers reserve the right of admission and the right to expel attendees at its sole discretion. Decisions of the organisers are binding on all attendees.

This event is NOT for architects who qualify for automatic registration under the Act.

For those who have less than 7-10 years working experience as architects, there will remain very little scope, if any, for continuing to use the title "architect" for conducting business in the State.

Saturday 10th Decemeber 2011

2.00 - 2.30pm Signing-in

2.30 - 5.30pm The Meeting

<5.30pm  Informal Discussion in the Lounge

There is free underground car parking at the hotel.

Killeshin Hotel, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, tel: 057 863 1200  http://www.thekilleshin.com/

Prior to travelling, check this page, your Inbox and/or your cell phone for any last minute changes.