Tuesday 28th January 2005: The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney T.D., today (28 January 05) announced the Board of the new interim Health Information and Quality Authority (iHIQA).

The Board of the interim Health Information and Quality Authority will be responsible for preparing the administrative and organisational plans for the early establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority under primary legislation.

A key policy aim of the Health Strategy is to deliver high quality services that are based on evidence-supported best practice. The Health Information and Quality Authority is being established to advance this aim.

"I am delighted to announce membership of the Board of the interim Health Information and Quality Authority as it represents an important step in the further development of a high quality, safe and effective health care system which will provide a better service for patients." The Tánaiste said. "The Board of the interim Authority reflects the broad range of key competencies and backgrounds required to support and lead the work of the interim Health Information and Quality Authority."

The responsibilities of the Health Information and Quality Authority will be built around three related functions:

• Developing health information
• Promoting and implementing quality assurance programmes nationally
• Overseeing health technology assessment

Today's announcement follows the earlier appointment of Mr. Pat McGrath as Chairperson of the Board.

Concluding, the Tánaiste added "the Health Information and Quality Authority will play a central role in developing health and personal social services in Ireland and will help ensure that quality of care is promoted throughout our health system and that patients receive the best possible outcomes within the available resources."

Board of the interim Health Information and Quality Authority

Name
Position

Mr. Pat McGrath
Chief Executive, Project Management Group.

Dr. Ruth Barrington
Chief Executive, Health Research Board.

Dr. Michael Barry
Medical Director of the National Pharmacoeconomic Centre and Consultant Physician, St. James's Hospital.

Mr. Dan Byrne
Chair, Irish Health Services Accreditation Board.

Dr. Ian Callanan
Vice President, Irish Society for Quality and Safety in Healthcare.

Professor Muiris X. FitzGerald
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, UCD and Consultant Respiratory and General Physician, St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4.

Ms. Anne Geraghty
Speech and Language Therapy Services Manager with the Brothers of Charity in Galway.

Dr. Elizabeth Keane
Chair, National Cancer Registry.

Dr. Brian Meade
GP, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin.

Dr. Siobhán O'Halloran
Nursing Services Director, HSE.

Mr. David A O'Hora
Director, Southern Marketing, Advertising and Communications Agency.

Ms. Dolores Quinn
Key Account Manager, Abbott Laboratories.