Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister did not address my question at all. I understand he is not the author of what he has just read, but, not only in the question I posed to him but also in the brief introduction I delivered orally, I asked why a key component of the plan announced by the former Minister in respect of the Government's policy on health, namely, the patient safety authority, had been dropped. It was announced by the Taoiseach in October 2014 that there were no plans to proceed to introduce a patient safety authority. Surely it should not be a case of either-or between a patient safety authority and a patient advocacy agency. When the matter of patient health and safety is involved, one should complement the other. It is interesting that within two months of Deputy James Reilly's removal as Minister of Health this was the position articulated. I note this followed a statement from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on new structures, including the patient safety authority, describing them as being part of the proliferation of quangos. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is not known for its caring nature, let alone its knowledge and appreciation of the reforms necessary in the health service. Did the Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, play a role in influencing the decision not to proceed with the establishment of a patient safety authority?

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