Results 7,281-7,300 of 21,498 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Am I right in saying this is the first appearance of HIQA before our committee?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Mr. Quinn is very welcome.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: A lot has been asked of him already. I want to focus on a couple of specific things, if I might. In terms of nursing homes, HIQA has very considerable powers. Will he recite them in a list, as it were, starting from registration? What are the powers that HIQA enjoys in respect of that sector?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is a question for Ms Dunnion.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Absolutely. I also defer to Ms Dunnion's greater knowledge.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: They will then not be able to operate.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is clear. HIQA has a very firm rein on the sector because it has statutory authority. Are there distinctions as between private and public nursing homes?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Does HIQA have any role in respect of the setting of charges?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: It does not have a remit in respect of either private or incidental charges. How is that done in the sector?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: I wish I had more time because what Ms Dunnion is saying is extremely informative. Should HIQA have a role or function in respect of costs or charges?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: The costs in private nursing homes are set individually by each home. It is a matter of law that it has to be done that way.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: I want to ask about the board. The chairperson, Mr. McEnery-----

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes, I recall. His fee is €20,520. In 2016, the board met seven times. That means he was clearing €2,931.43 per meeting. I will not even get into the subsistence that was paid. That is a substantial amount of cash. Can Ms Dunnion tell me what are the roles of the chairperson and board? Does the board have a role or a say in the things to which Ms Dunnion has referred?...

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: They are set.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is fine. Mr. Quinn can tell me about those at another time. I want to know about what the board and Mr. McEnery are doing.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Mr. Quinn mentioned issues around governance and corporate compliance. One of the things we discussed with Mr. McEnery, albeit in terms of NAMA, was the issue of conflicts of interest. Is Mr. Quinn satisfied that conflicts of interest are properly catered for? I note from his CV that he has been a health adviser for quite some time. I assume he has some relationship with nursing homes or...

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Where are the limits for the chairperson? I am sorry to pick on him but his is the only name I recognise. What can and can he not do, professionally, given that he operates as an adviser while being chairperson of the board of HIQA? Where is the delineation? Would they have to make a declaration?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Has the chairperson ever made such declarations at meetings?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is a very hands-off role.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Information and Quality Authority: Financial Statement 2016 (28 Sep 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is a monitoring, oversight role.