SummaryThe enactment of Part II of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 in Ireland heralds a move from voluntary to statutory provision of professional competence and marks an important advance in medical professionalism in the country. This formalises consultant psychiatrists' existing commitment to updating their knowledge and skills and compels basic and higher specialist trainees to actively engage in the process. The relevance of reflective practice for professional and personal development of trainee psychiatrists is discussed and the role of existing trainee learning activities in the process of lifelong learning is explored in this context.