Mr. Tony O'Brien:

Mr. Patrick Lynch, who is not with us today and who I think I am right in saying took on that role in December. It is set out in the 2015 service plan. It is also a series of changes that have been acknowledged and welcomed by HIQA, notwithstanding the fact, as I acknowledge, that it is still early days. We do not yet know what it will do, but in design terms it is appropriate.

In each of the five divisions at national level it is the divisional national director who has responsibility. In each of the hospital groups it is the group chief executive who has responsibility. In each of the community health organisations which are at a slightly earlier stage of development it is the chief officer who has responsibility. To answer Deputy Seamus Healy's question, a single, national blob-like entity, if I can use that term, that has all of the responsibility at the centre and which is not appropriately diffused is not fit for purpose. As I said in my opening remarks, when I took on the job, it was on the basis that I could make these changes, which are consistent with the programme for Government and the Future Health strategy, in a reasonably timely fashion but only in line with the various policy decisions when made. By the end of the year we will have a much better structure delivery system from the point of view of named people with real responsibility for defined parts of service delivery and others who have more of a commissioning role, which is the long-term intent for how the health service will be organised. I hope I have answered that question.

On the patient safety authority, now more appropriately referred to as a patient advocacy entity, we had done some work, but the Minister will take it forward and establish it as a body or perhaps as part of an existing body which will be in a position to help people to navigate what is, by any means, a very complicated system and act as an advocate in the common sense of the word to ensure there is professional support available to an individual who is seeking redress, information or answers from what is a very large, complex and unwieldy system.