James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach is aware, as is everyone else, that the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, issued guidelines for the control of infections in hospitals. This is a serious issue that has cost lives in the past and I welcome the guidelines, as I am sure we all do. However, regarding underpinning legislation relating to HIQA, will resources be given to the authority to ensure standards are adhered to and will it be able to censure hospitals that do not reach the mark? It is ridiculous that a health inspector can close a restaurant at the drop of a hat but people are left in hospitals exposed to infections because the necessary facilities are not in place.

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