Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
1103. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the Health (Adult Safeguarding) Bill 2017 will provide for the establishment of an independent national adult safeguarding authority with an interagency structure, overarching responsibility for safeguarding and clearly defined statutory powers. [27054/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for clarifying through her office that the question relates to the anticipated Health (Adult Safeguarding) Bill.
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.
To further strengthen the existing framework for the sector under my Department's remit, my Department is developing an overarching national policy on adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector. To facilitate the development of appropriate legislation to underpin this policy, subject to its approval by the Government, the Government has included a Health (Adult Safeguarding) Bill in its current Legislation Programme. The Bill’s provisions will be focused on adult safeguarding where health and social care services are provided.
Adult safeguarding is much broader than the health and social care sector. It is an important matter for all sectors, society as a whole, all agencies and all 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. Consideration of any proposals for national structures, such as a national adult safeguarding authority, would be a matter for consideration across all sectors and Departments and for decision by the Government.
Separately from my Department's policy development work specifically in relation to the health and social care sector, the Law Reform Commission is preparing a major report on A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding, that is expected to inform future policy and legislation on adult safeguarding across all sectors. Upon completion of the Commission’s report, I expect that relevant Departments will consider any recommendations the Commission may make regarding legislation relevant to their Departments’ functions and any recommendations it may make in relation to cross-departmental, cross-sectoral, inter-agency or whole of society approaches.
