Dr. Tony Holohan:

There are two items of legislation in question. The statement of HIQA refers to the patient safety Bill approved by Government recently. That is not the piece of legislation before us this morning. That Bill will see the extension the powers HIQA currently has to the private hospital system. It is a step along the road to licensing, but nowhere near where we want to go. It does not contain anything more than that which already exists in HIQA's existing suite of enforcement powers. However, the licensing legislation before us this morning contains a comprehensive set of enforcement powers that, when enacted, will give HIQA very significant powers of intervention, compellability, potential closure of facilities in the event of non-compliance and the ability to apply fines. Sentences are set out, which will apply whether offences are indictable or not, as part of the suite of powers.