Regulatory Bodies

Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Questions (975)

Paul Murphy

Question:

975. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1018 and 1019 of 20 January 2026, to confirm whether she accepts that CORU currently has no mechanism to receive or assess systemic or organisational ethical breaches affecting professional practice; whether she considers reliance on internal organisational processes and protected disclosures sufficient to meet the State’s public-protection obligations; and if not, when she intends to bring forward proposals to address the regulatory gap in CORU's regulatory framework she has now acknowledged. [9217/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

In my previous reply to the Deputy, I outlined the existing and planned legal protections and obligations underpinning professional practice in various areas of health and social care. These are already extensive and due to be further strengthened through implementation of the new National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care Sector, which was approved by Government and published in December 2025.

In addition, depending on the circumstances, workers can already report information under the Protected Disclosures Act to their regulator if appropriate, the Protected Disclosures Commissioner, or myself, where the worker is employed (or was employed) in a public body under that my remit.

In light of the above, I do not consider any amendments are needed to the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended).