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

If the Minister allows me to answer, perhaps he might learn a little. The point is - the Minister knows it as well as any other voice in this House - that HIQA's reports, findings and recommendations are continuously ignored by the HSE. The Minister's Department is not playing the role it should have been in insisting on recommendations being acted on and implemented. We have report after report from HIQA with recommendations that have been ignored. We need a patient safety authority, acting not only on HIQA's recommendations but also the findings of reviews commissioned by the HSE, many of which have been completely ignored. We need a body with the power to act and ensure health and safety are always the critical factors, rather than budgetary considerations at the expense of people's lives.

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