365. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health when she will bring forward comprehensive safeguarding legislation, as recommended in the Law Reform Commission Report ‘A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding’; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53926/26]

A National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care sector was published in December 2025, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. The policy framework will extend across all public, private and voluntary health and social care services.

Included are a range of both legislative and non-legislative measures that will significantly expand and strengthen existing supports and protections for adults at risk of harm across the health and social care sector. The Government has also approved the development of legislation to underpin these commitments. Key legislative commitments include:

• The Health Service Executive (HSE) will have responsibility for leading and coordinating adult safeguarding across the sector and will have statutory functions, duties, and powers to underpin this role.

• Current safeguarding structures within the HSE will be strengthened and legislation will provide that they will operate independently in the performance of their functions.

• New powers of entry for safeguarding and protection teams and powers to obtain court protection orders.

• The Health Information Quality Authority's (HIQA’s) remit will be extended to include independent oversight and monitoring of adult safeguarding services for the Health and Social care sector delivered by the HSE.

• New obligations for service providers including undertaking risk evaluations, developing, and publishing adult safeguarding statements and ensuring staff are appropriately trained.

• The introduction of mandatory reporting in specified circumstances.

• The National Independent Review Panel (NIRP) process for adult safeguarding learning reviews for serious incidents will be strengthened and placed on a statutory footing.

• Strengthened cooperation between service providers and relevant state agencies.

The Department of Health is actively working on preparing a General Scheme of a Health (Adult Safeguarding) Bill and it is expected to be published this year.

In addition, the Health Service Executive's (HSE’s) Chief Social Worker is leading the development of an implementation plan for the national policy framework to be approved by the Department of Health.

The national policy framework was informed by stakeholder and service user engagement, public consultation, and research and by recommendations from the 2024 Law Reform Commission Report ‘A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding’ and the 2024 independent review of HSE’s adult safeguarding policies, procedures and structures (by Jackie McIlroy).