The Minister for Health and Children requires a range of accurate, timely and quality information to discharge her functions to formulate policy and assess the performance of the health system as well as ensure that she can provide appropriate political accountability to the Oireachtas. Provisions are already in place under the Health Act 2004 that require the HSE to provide information and allow the Minister to issue directions requiring the provision of information. However, in preparing the Bill, the opportunity was taken to strengthen the existing situation in a particular way.

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