Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Which Department should be responsible for this complex legislation? It is a multidisciplinary and goes across a wide range of departmental and agency services. It would seem to involve the Departments of Health, Justice and Equality, Employment and Social Protection. What would the proposed national safeguarding authority look like? What would its composition be? What would it cost the State? This was a question the Minister asked when he dealt with it in the Seanad. What resources would be required to investigate 32,000 complaints? We have looked at open disclosure in medical negligence and mishap cases in hospitals and discussed whether it should be mandatory or voluntary. If it were to be mandatory, would that dramatically increase the number of complaints? If someone failed to make a mandatory report, what would be the consequences?