Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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600. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider amending the Health Act 2007 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18141/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was established 10 years ago to undertake a variety of tasks. These are set out in Section 8 of the Health Act 2007, and include the setting of standards on safety and quality for services provided by or on behalf of the HSE, for nursing homes, for disability centers and to monitor compliance with those standards. HIQA is also empowered, under section 9 of the Act, to undertake investigations into services on a number of grounds, including where it believes that there is a serious risk to the health or welfare of a person receiving the services, or where it is directed to do so by the Minister.

It is also worth noting that HIQA undertakes a number of other significant tasks, including evaluating the clinical and cost effectiveness of new medical technologies, and improving the quality of the health information which is available to the health service.

In carrying out its duties, and in particular the sensitive work of conducting inspections and investigations, HIQA has demonstrated its independence on numerous occasions. However, in common with all State Agencies, HIQA is subject to appropriate oversight arrangements, for example in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Code of Practice for the Governance of State Agencies. It is also entirely appropriate that all State Agencies, including those exercising vital regulatory functions such as HIQA, should be cognisant of Government objectives in order to ensure that work programmes are appropriately tailored to the overall direction of travel of Government policy.

I would also note that HIQA has no reporting, accountability or other similar relationship with the HSE.