Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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461. To ask the Minister for Health if he has plans to introduce legislation in the area of safeguarding for vulnerable adults; the status of the legislation; when it will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20654/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government takes the protection of adults at risk of abuse very seriously. There are various structures and processes currently in place to protect against abuse in the health and social care sector and to ensure prompt action. My Department is at an advanced stage of developing a national policy on adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector. Subject to Government approval, this policy will further strengthen the sector’s adult safeguarding framework and will apply to all public, voluntary and private healthcare and social care settings and agencies under my Department’s remit. In the event that the Government approves this sectoral policy, legislation as required to underpin it will then be prepared.

Separately, the independent Law Reform Commission is undertaking a review on A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding(across all sectors). Upon completion, this Department will consider any recommendations the Commission may make regarding legislation relevant to its functions and anticipates that other Departments will do the same.