Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

It will set standards on health and safety for the HSE, or a service provider in accordance with the Health Acts, the Child Care Acts and the Children Act, and private nursing homes. Deputies McManus and Ó Caoláin are anxious to establish beyond doubt that HIQA will have responsibility for setting standards on safety and quality in hospitals and for monitoring compliance with standards set. I assure them that is the case under section 7(1)(a) as currently drafted. Under the Health Act 2004, the HSE has responsibility for delivering health and personal social services or arranging the delivery of these services on its behalf. Hospital services are provided directly by the executive under the Health Acts and by voluntary hospitals on behalf of the executive and are therefore included within the relevant definition. Accordingly, this amendment is unnecessary and its inclusion might create the impression that providing standards for hospitals would be of a higher priority than for other services.

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