Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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358. To ask the Minister for Health if the implementation of an open-disclosure policy by the Health Service Executive and the State Claims Agency last year has resulted in savings through a reduction in legal fees and associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42899/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The principal rationale for the introduction of a policy of open disclosure is not to save money, but to ensure that there is more open and patient-centred care for patients.

It is not possible at this stage to indicate what savings in legal costs may have occurred. Evidence of a reduction in litigation costs will only be evident after a longer period of time has elapsed, given the time frame involved between an incident occurring to settlement of litigation.