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

With the benefits of modern technology it is possible to be in touch with relevant organisations such as outpatient, in-patient and emergency departments throughout the country to a great extent. To what extent can HIQA do that in the future in order to have a command-centre-type response from the system? Otherwise we do not go forward to the extent we want. We need to confirm patient safety and security and to do the best we can to achieve safe and secure outcomes. If we want to achieve all those things, we need to be in regular control and in touch. How quickly can HIQA be in control? Can it use modern technology to do that? I am not talking about breaching confidence or anything like that at all. Is it possible to still be in control and in a control-centre-type situation?