Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann,

conscious of issues which compromise patient safety such as those exposed in:

the Lourdes Hospital Inquiry Report;

the report on the death of Mr. Pat Joe Walsh;

the case of Mr. Peter McKenna; and

the Leas Cross reports;

aware that the creation of one single employer, the HSE, for a majority of the staff who work in the health services, supports the case for the establishment of an independent body with a strong legislative base which is focused on patient safety;

calls on the Government to:

immediately establish a patient safety authority to put patient safety at the heart of the health services and to inter alia:

set and monitor standards of patient safety in all registered health and social care facilities;

advise on patient safety, investigate complaints and carry out quality reviews;

act as the commissioner for mental health services; and

facilitate "whistleblowers".

I wish to share time with Deputies McManus and Crawford.

See this speech in context