Ms Angela Fitzgerald:

It is a fair question. It underlines the importance of reinforcing that is our mission. Certainly for my predecessor, and from the inception of HIQA, one of the things we have driven is that focus on human rights. It is important to say that regulation provides a minimum compliance. What we have tried to do is move people towards a system where they are doing it because it is the right thing to do, rather than because we inspect them. It is an important point to make that if the system of delivery of care becomes dependent on an inspector coming in and shining a light, we will always have people doing things because somebody else is telling them to do it. What we are trying to do is get the system to do it because it is the right thing to do.

In the time I have been in the role, I have attended many provider events and events which mark particular landmarks, and what I have been struck by is the commitment of the vast majority of providers to deliver good care. It is a fair challenge to put to us. We have been challenged by the events, and we do have to make sure that continues to be amplified by the work and training we do, as well as by the learning events we promote with our own staff. We do a reflective practice event every year with all of the regulatory team where we go off site and challenge ourselves to look at where we could do better. We also do that with the provider system. I was at an event recently for all of the providers there, and many of those would have had challenges with us. There has always been a tension regarding whether a regulator can be collaborative. We believe we can. It is a fair question the Deputy put to us and it amplifies the importance for us to do the learning we are looking at for ourselves.