Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will do my best not to falter in the course of my contribution. I want to mention two or three things which have come to my mind. The statement provided to the committee by Dr. Holohan states:

Patients have a right to be provided with honest, open and prompt communication about any adverse event that may have caused them harm. This is underpinned in the Medical Practitioners Code of Conduct and the HSE Open Disclosure Policy. The Civil Liability (Amendment) Act ... These provisions were drafted to create a safe space for staff to be open and transparent with patients.

How does that sit with current events? It is very laudable but it does not seem to have been part and parcel of the daily exercise of the HSE in all its workings. That is one question. The other thing I notice is that in 2009 HIQA conducted a survey which concluded that the system warranted an ISO 9001 accreditation.