James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance; if the commission remains [i]in situ[/i]; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35284/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Patient safety has become both a national and international imperative in recent years, with increasing emphasis across the world on patient safety in policy reform, legislative changes and development of standards of care driven by quality improvement initiatives. I and this government place great importance on the policies and practical reforms we are implementing to ensure patient safety and quality-assured health services. The Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance was established in January 2007 and reported to me in July 2008. The Commission's Report - Building a Culture of Patient Safety - was published in August 2008; thus the Commission's remit was completed and it was not required to remain in situ after that point.

Following on from that body of work, the Government accepted the Commission's report earlier this year and supported the immediate establishment of a Steering Group to drive implementation of the Report's 134 recommendations. The Implementation Steering Group (ISG) was set up in June 2009 and is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of my Department, Dr. Tony Holohan. I expect to receive the ISG's first Quarterly Report on progress to date in the very near future. The Government also approved the commencement of work on the drawing up of legislation to give effect to the Commission's central recommendation on the licensing of both public and private healthcare providers. Preparatory work on this has already commenced in my Department.