An amendment to the Health Act 2007 has already been made in this regard through the enactment of the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023.
Section 64 of the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023 amends Section 9 of the Health Act 2007. This amendment was made to clarify and strengthen relevant Ministers’ powers to request an investigation, by HIQA, into serious risks that may exist in Ireland’s health and social care services. Section 9 of the Health Act 2007, as amended, gives the Minister for Health and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the power to direct HIQA to undertake an investigation, to address serious ongoing risks to patient safety in Ireland's health and social care services, including maternity services.