Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have certainly started the thinking, Deputy, yes. I would agree with the Deputy that, yes, we need a review of the mechanisms for the claims. I would just add that we also need a system to stop the event happening in the first place. Ultimately, what matters is patient safety. Step one is to minimise and drive down as close to zero as possible any adverse incident for any patient.

Second, I fully agree with the Deputy. We need to take a broader view of what can be done to support patients harmed in adverse events associated with negligence. For what it is worth, my view is that, while everyone has the right to go to the courts, they should be a last resort. For too many patients, they are the only resort.