Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

286. To ask the Minister for Health if he will introduce a licensing system for all health and care facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3847/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am adopting a phased approach to the regulation of healthcare. My Department continues to progress the Patient Safety Licensing Bill and has established a Working Group to engage with the Health Service Executive, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the independent healthcare sector to inform the finalisation of the General Scheme of the Bill prior to its consideration by Government. As an interim step and in advance of a formal licensing regime for public and private hospitals, I propose to bring the private/independent healthcare sector within the remit of the Health Act 2007. In November 2015, Government gave approval to the drafting of the Health Information and Patient Safety Bill which will include the necessary provisions to extend HIQA’s powers to set and monitor standards, and undertake investigations, where necessary, in the private healthcare sector. Work on drafting the Health Information and Patient Safety Bill will continue throughout 2016.