Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have two quick questions. One is on the enforcement powers and the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA. It is a direct question to which I would appreciate a direct answer. There are people in the media and others who have commented that the powers of HIQA are weak and limited. The question is simple. If the legislators were minded to give HIQA stronger powers of enforcement, presumably with the attendant resources, would that be welcome and does HIQA think that is necessary?

My second question is on Head 20. Head 20 is extensive and it references the provision of person-centred, effective and safe care. It also references the Sláintecare report around putting in place a hospital or designated activities, the necessary clinical and corporate governance arrangements to ensure that we have the effective and safe care. My question is on the influence or otherwise of persons outside of the hospital on the clinical governance arrangements - we are all having a debate about the separation of church and State and where that might lead, so I refer specifically to the influence of a religious ethos on the provision of person-centred, effective and safe care where there may be a conflict. Does this head give HIQA the authority to override that or in any way scrutinise it or is that ethos of any given institution something that is seen to be separate? Will HIQA go in and monitor on the basis of the overarching philosophy or ethos or whatever word HIQA wants to use? It could be read a number of ways. I would read it as saying that it does give HIQA the power to take a view on that or question it if it were appropriate.