Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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355. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a no-fault compensation scheme for mistakes made within the health service. [20871/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Since the publication of the recommendations of the Working Group on Medical Negligence and Periodic Payments, which was chaired by former High Court Judge John Quirke, significant legal reforms have been introduced or are on the way in order to deal more effectively with clinical negligence claims.

Nevertheless, I believe we must go further in addressing the difficulties which our current system presents for those who have experienced harm and wish to be assured that the problems are addressed and appropriate redress is made.

I have informed Government that, building on recent legal reforms, I will engage with Minister Flanagan on the options to further improve the legal approach to managing clinical negligence cases. For this purpose my officials met Department of Justice and Equality officials last week to examine the key issues involved and to examine all options available.

This action will be progressed in the coming weeks in order to bring further proposals to Government to build on the work of Judge Quirke's Working Group on Medical Negligence and Periodic Payments. I expect that all potential options to improve the current system, including a no fault approach, will be considered in the process.