Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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1911. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the report by an organisation (details supplied); the actions that have been taken and will be taken by his Department as a result of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30808/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the recent publication by Safeguarding Ireland of this comprehensive and well-argued report, which is an important contribution to the ongoing debate on how best we can enhance adult safeguarding frameworks in Ireland across and within all sectors, including the health and social care sector.

Adult safeguarding is an important matter for all of society, agencies and Government Departments. While every sector has specific safeguarding responsibilities for adults at risk within their remit, currently no one Department has an assigned lead or coordinating cross-sectoral role, and I note that Safeguarding Ireland’s report suggests a central role in this regard for the Department of Justice and supportive roles for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, my Department and the Departments of Social Protection, Finance, and Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

I and my Department take the risk of abuse of vulnerable adults in healthcare and social care contexts very seriously. In the health and social care sector, various structures and processes, including legislative and policy measures, are available to protect against abuse and ensure prompt action, including legislative and policy measures. My Department will carefully examine Safeguarding Ireland’s important report with a view to identifying and considering its potential implications for agencies and services within the remit of my Department. I will ask relevant officials of my Department to meet representatives of Safeguarding Ireland to discuss these implications in greater detail, with a view to informing my Department’s ongoing work to develop a national policy and related underpinning legislation on adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector, building on the robust structures already in place. This policy development work is at a very advanced stage, with details of a public consultation to be announced in the near future.

Separately, the Law Reform Commission is preparing a major report on A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguardingacross all sectors, which is also expected to inform future policy and legislation on adult safeguarding. Upon completion of the Commission’s report, all relevant Departments will consider any recommendations the Commission may make regarding legislation relevant to their Departments’ functions.