Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

The Minister should be interested in what happens in the health services. It seems to be thrown onto the Garda Síochána and the Government does not care about it anymore. This is the reason we need a patient safety authority so that when the Minister and I are no longer in politics and have moved on to other areas, some legacy will be left behind to protect patients. We cannot absolve ourselves of responsibility and hope that a new Minister for Health and Children will deal with issues.

The former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, walked into the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children and told it he had no responsibility for the illegal nursing home charges. He was delighted to take up the Minister's old job. In two years time when the Minister is gone from her position, some other Minister, who could be from this side of the House, will have been appointed. One thing we cannot do anymore is deny responsibility for past actions. We must set up a system that protects patients properly, which is what I want the Government to do. This is why I will focus so much on what we are putting forward in respect of a patient safety authority.

The Social Services Inspectorate was established in 1999. There are ten weeks left in the Dáil session before the next general election. The Government has been sitting on this issue for seven years. The Minister stated preparatory work is being carried out by HIQA——

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