John Crown (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister and I do understand the role of the nursing board but the best way to ensure safety is prospectively, not retrospectively. In Ireland we have too often followed the black box philosophy. We put structures in place to investigate health care disasters after they occur. If I may paraphrase an expression usually used in another context, it is the politics of the last health care atrocity. We need structures which prospectively prevent such disasters occurring. I believe the nursing board does have an advocacy role for standards in the profession and is not there just to inspect them after something happens. The money would be much better spent if the board used its efforts to ensure continuous professional education is developed.