Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The HSE is responsible for operational issues and the Minister is responsible for policies.

The CEO must ensure that appropriate systems are in place and the board must satisfy itself that the systems are in place. Strategically from a policy perspective, the legislation will now require the CEO to put in place systems and procedures for internal performance management and accountability for the HSE.

This is a new legislative requirement, which will ensure that the HSE puts in place not just the performance management framework that monitors the implementation and delivery of the corporate plan and services, but also sets out what accountability system it will put in place to ensure senior management answerability regarding the achievement of these plans.

The aim of some of the amendments is to ensure consistency of language throughout the Health Act 2004 when referring to Government or ministerial policies. Policies are polices whether set out in codes, guidelines or any other documents or combination of documents.

The need for these technical changes arises in section 7 of the Health Act 2004 in respect of the object and functions of the HSE, section 29 of the Act in respect of the corporate plan, and section 31 of the Act in respect of the service plan.

Amendments Nos. 22 and 24 are drafting amendments to the corporate plan and services. They add text to the description of how the policy can be examined, for example, documents or codes.

I have nothing further to add on that.