Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2010
183 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his plans to bring Health Information and Quality Authority within the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman under the Ombudsman Amendment Bill 2008 when it is enacted. [20376/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraReport Stage of the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008 is due to be taken in the Dáil shortly. Once enacted, the Bill will extend the powers of the Ombudsman to cover a significant number of new bodies which, at present, are outside the remit of the Ombudsman. This means that the administrative actions of many public bodies, that were previously not subject to investigation by the Ombudsman, will now be open to impartial and independent scrutiny. The primary reason to expand the Ombudsman's remit at this time is ensure that bodies that are appropriate for inclusion in the remit of the Ombudsman and that have been set up since the Office was established become reviewable.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was established in May 2007 as part of the government's health reform programme. HIQA is an independent Authority which is responsible for driving quality and safety in Ireland's health and social care services and its functions are based on establishing and regulating standards in health care.
Bodies with regulatory type functions are being excluded from the Ombudsman's remit, at this time, where they have little or no direct dealings with the public and where their interface is normally with commercial entities.
Given the regulatory role of HIQA and ongoing rationalisation of a number of other bodies the Government will review the bodies included within the Ombudsman's remit during the passage of the above mentioned legislation through the Oireachtas.
