Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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831. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for the introduction of mandatory open disclosure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25279/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government recently gave approval to the drafting of legislative provisions to provide for mandatory open disclosure, through the development of the General Scheme of a Patient Safety Bill, which is currently being developed by officials of my Department as a matter of urgency.

These provisions to provide for mandatory open disclosure of serious patient safety incidents will be in addition to the provisions for open disclosure contained in the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017. The Regulations to prescribe the process for open disclosure in line with the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017 are also being drafted at present and are expected to be finalised shortly. 

The Patient Safety Bill, in addition to addressing mandatory open disclosure, will also provide for a number of other important patient safety concerns, including in relation to mandatory reporting of serious incidents to an appropriate regulatory body such as HIQA, allow the Minister for Health to issue guidance in relation to clinical audit, and the extension of the remit of HIQA to private hospitals.

It is intended to seek approval to publish the draft General Scheme of the Patient Safety Bill before the summer recess.