A consultant is a registered medical practitioner who holds a current full registration with the Irish Medical Council and is engaged in hospital practice and who, by reason of his or her training, skill and experience in a designated speciality, is consulted by other registered medical practitioners and undertakes full clinical responsibility for patients in his or her care, or that aspect of care on which he or she has been consulted, without supervision in professional matters by any other person.
In the context of treatment abroad a consultant is defined as a surgeon, physician or anaesthetist who is under 70 years of age and legally qualified to provide the treatment in that country.