Mr. Phelim Quinn:

I will address one point that Deputy Durkan made. Our organisation does not have a remit or the competence to deal with the issues of litigation as he has described. However, some of his points looked to the prevention of some patient safety issues in our hospitals. The evolution of regulation in health and social care services in Ireland, and internationally, has proved to be a mechanism whereby patient safety incidents can be prevented and the education part of the regulation cycle helps to ensure improvements in health and social care services. In his opening statement Dr. Holohan referred to a range of initiatives being promoted through the National Patient Safety Office. We work in partnership with several of those initiatives. The national patient experience survey, the health technology assessment, the development of standards and regulation all play their part in creating a safer environment and promoting a higher quality service. That is HIQA's involvement in prevention. I do not know if colleagues from the Department would want to add to that.