Health Act 2004


Number 42 of 2004


HEALTH ACT 2004

REVISED

Updated to 1 March 2023


This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Health Act 2004. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 (3/2023), enacted 1 March 2023, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Appointment of Special Advisers (Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 115 of 2023), made 28 February 2023, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.


Number 42 of 2004


HEALTH ACT 2004

REVISED

Updated to 1 March 2023


Introduction

This Revised Act presents the text of the Act as it has been amended since enactment, and preserves the format in which it was passed.

Related legislation

Child Care Acts 1991 to 2022: this Act, s. 75 is one of a group of Acts included in this collective citation to be construed together as one (Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 (21/2022), s. 13(2)). The Acts in this group are:

Child Care Act 1991 (17/1991)

Children Act 2001 (24/2001), Part 2 and s. 267

Health Act 2004 (42/2004), s. 75, in so far as it amends the Child Care Acts 1991 and 2001

Child Care (Amendment) Act 2007 (26/2007), s. 1(3) and Part 2 s. 21, in so far as it amends the Child Care Acts 1991 and 2001

Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 (19/2011), other than ss. 27, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37 to 45, 47 and 49

Child Care (Amendment) Act 2013 (5/2013)

Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (9/2015), s. 175

Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 (45/2015), other than ss. 14 and 15

Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 (21/2022), other than ss. 9 to 12

Children Acts 2001 to 2021: this Act, s. 75, is one of a group of Acts included in this collective citation to be construed together as one (Children (Amendment) Act 2021 (6/2021), s. 2(2)). The Acts in this group are:

Children Act 2001 (24/2001)

Health Act 2004 (42/2004), s. 75, in so far as it amends the Children Act 2001

Criminal Justice Act 2006 (26/2006), Part 12

Child Care (Amendment) Act 2007 (26/2007), Part 3 (except s. 21)

Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 (19/2011), ss. 27, 32, 33, 37 to 45 and 47

Children (Amendment) Act 2015 (30/2015), Parts 1 and 2

Children (Amendment) Act 2021 (6/2021)

Health Acts 1947 to 2022: this Act is one of a group of Acts included in this collective citation, to be construed together as one (Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act 2022 (20/2022), s. 1(2)). The Acts in this group are:

Health Act 1947 (28/1947)

Health Act 1953 (26/1953) (citation only)

Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960 (46/1960) (citation only)

Health Act 1970 (1/1970)

Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (12/1977), s. 36 and s. 42 in so far as it amends the Health Acts 1947 to 1970 (citation only)

Health (Family Planning) Act 1979 (20/1979)

Health (Amendment) Act 1986 (10/1986)

Health (Amendment) Act 1987 (3/1987)

Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 (23/1990)

Health (Amendment) Act 1991 (15/1991), other than s. 8

Health (Amendment) Act 1994 (11/1994)

Health (Amendment) Act 1996 (15/1996)

Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1996 (23/1996)

Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 1996 (32/1996), other than ss. 21 and 22

Health (Provision of Information) Act 1997 (9/1997)

Health (Eastern Regional Health Authority) Act 1999 (13/1999)

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001 (14/2001), except in so far as it relates to the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act 1988 (citation only)

Health Act 2004 (42/2004)

Health (Amendment) Act 2005 (3/2005), in so far as it amends the Health Acts 1947 to 2004

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (3/2006), Part 5

Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 (17/2006)

Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act 2006 (22/2006), except s. 6

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Act 2007 (1/2007)

Health Act 2007 (23/2007)

Medical Practitioners Act 2007 (25/2007), s. 57(9) (citation only)

Health Act 2008 (21/2008)

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 (25/2009), s. 64

Health (Amendment) Act 2010 (15/2010) (citation only)

Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2010 (20/2010)

Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 (19/2011), ss. 35 and 36 (citation only)

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2013 (10/2013)

Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 (14/2013), s. 30 (citation only)

Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013 (23/2013)

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Act 2013 (42/2013) (citation only)

Local Government Reform Act (1/2014), the amendment to the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960 provided for in section 5 (6) and sch. 2, part 6.

Health Service Executive (Financial Matters) Act 2014 (17/2014)

Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014 (28/2014)

Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2015 (19/2015)

Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2018 (13/2018)

Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2019 (17/2019), other than Part 3

Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 (11/2020)

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (23/2020), Part 2 (s. 5)

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act 2022 (20/2022), other than s. 7

Acts previously included in the group but now repealed are:

Health Act 1954 (23/1954)

Health and Mental Treatment Act 1957 (16/1957), s. 1

Health and Mental Treatment (Amendment) Act 1958 (37/1958), s.1

Health (Homes For Incapacitated Persons) Act 1964 (8/1964)

Health and Mental Treatment (Amendment) Act 1966 (2/1966), s. 1

Health (Mental Services) Act 1981 (17/1981)

Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Act 1985 (4/1985)

Health (Amendment) Act 2004 (19/2004)

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2019 (8/2019), Part 2 (s. 4)

Annotations

This Revised Act is annotated and includes textual and non-textual amendments, statutory instruments made pursuant to the Act and previous affecting provisions.

An explanation of how to read annotations is available at

www.lawreform.ie/annotations.

Material not updated in this revision

Where other legislation is amended by this Act, those amendments may have been superseded by other amendments in other legislation, or the amended legislation may have been repealed or revoked. This information is not represented in this revision but will be reflected in a revision of the amended legislation if one is available.

Where legislation or a fragment of legislation is referred to in annotations, changes to this legislation or fragment may not be reflected in this revision but will be reflected in a revision of the legislation referred to if one is available.

A list of legislative changes to any Act, and to statutory instruments from 1972, may be found linked from the page of the Act or statutory instrument at

www.irishstatutebook.ie.

Acts which affect or previously affected this revision

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (6/2022)

Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2019 (17/2019)

Data Protection Act 2018 (7/2018)

Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015)

Freedom of Information Act 2014 (30/2014)

Health Service Executive (Financial Matters) Act 2014  (17/2014)

Protected Disclosures Act 2014  (14/2014)

Local Government Reform Act 2014 (1/2014)

Child and Family Agency Act 2013 (40/2013)

Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013  (23/2013)

Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 (41/2011)

Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 (19/2011)

Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010  (24/2010)

Health (Amendment) Act 2010  (15/2010)

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009  (15/2009)

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007 (42/2007)

Medical Practitioners Act 2007 (25/2007)

Health Act 2007 (23/2007)

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Act 2007 (1/2007)

All Acts up to and including Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 (3/2023), enacted 1 March 2023, were considered in the preparation of this revision.

Statutory instruments which affect or previously affected this revision

Specialist Community-Based Disability Services (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 688 of 2022)

Health Act 2004 (Section 40H) (Relevant Day) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 412 of 2019)

Health Act 2004 (Complaints) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 519 of 2018)

Commission of Investigation (Certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 96 of 2017)

Local Government (Performance of Reserved Functions in Respect of Municipal District Members) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 231 of 2014)

Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 480 of 2011)

Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011)

Health Service Executive Employee Superannuation Scheme 2010 (S.I. No. 362 of 2010)

Health Act 2004 (National Health Consultative Forum) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 333 of 2006)

Health Act 2004 (Complaints) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 652 of 2006)

Health Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 651 of 2006)

Mental Health Act 2001 (Approved Centres) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 551 of 2006)

Health Act 2004 (National Health Consultative Forum Appointment of Members) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 479 of 2006)

Health Act 2004 (Dealings with members of either House of the Oireachtas) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 798 of 2005)

Health Act 2004 (Regional Health Forums) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 797 of 2005)

Health Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2005  (S.I. No. 796 of 2005)

Health Act 2004 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 887 of 2004)

Health Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 886 of 2004)

Health Act 2004 (Establishment Day) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 885 of 2004)

National Breast Screening Board (Establishment) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 891 of 2004)

All statutory instruments up to and including Appointment of Special Advisers (Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 115 of 2023), made 28 February 2023, were considered in the preparation of this revision.


Number 42 of 2004


HEALTH ACT 2004

REVISED

Updated to 1 March 2023


ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary Matters

Section

1.

Short title, collective citation and construction.

2.

Interpretation.

3.

Commencement.

4.

Establishment day.

5.

Expenses.

5A.

Expenses of the Executive.

PART 2

Establishment and Functions of the Health Service Executive

6.

Establishment of Executive.

7.

Object and functions of Executive.

8.

Agreements between Executive and public authorities concerning performance of functions.

9.

Informal arrangements between Executive and local authorities concerning performance of functions.

10.

Directions from Minister.

10A.

Settings of priorities by Minister.

10AA.

Health needs assessment.

10B.

Limitation as to exercise of powers under sections 10 and 10A.

10C.

Directions from Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

10D.

Setting of priorities by Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

10E.

Limitation as to exercise of powers under sections 10C and 10D

PART 3

The Board of the Health Service Executive

11.

Membership of Board. (Repealed)

12.

Role of Board. (Repealed)

13.

Conditions of office. (Repealed)

14.

Removal of members from office. (Repealed)

15.

Committees of Board. (Repealed)

16.

Remuneration and expenses of members of Board and committees. (Repealed)

PART 3A

Chief Executive Officer

16A.

Directorate of Executive. (Repealed)

16B.

Term of office of appointed director. (Repealed)

16C.

Role of Directorate. (Repealed)

16D.

Appointed directors — eligibility for appointment and removal from office. (Repealed)

16E.

Appointment of Director General. (Repealed)

16F.

Eligibility for appointment as Director General. (Repealed)

16G.

General functions of Director General. (Repealed)

16H.

Delegation of functions by Director General. (Repealed)

16I.

Attendance by Director General before Oireachtas Committees. (Repealed)

16J.

Accountability of appointed directors to Director General for the performance of their functions as employees of Executive. (Repealed)

16K.

Meetings and procedure of Directorate. (Repealed)

16L.

Vacancies in membership of Directorate. (Repealed)

16M.

Committees of Directorate. (Repealed)

PART 3B

Chief Executive Officer

16N.

Membership of Board.

16O.

Casual vacancies.

16P.

Functions of Board.

16Q.

Membership of either House of Oireachtas or European Parliament.

16R.

Removal of member of Board.

16S.

Removal of all members of Board from office.

16T.

Committees of Board.

16U.

Remuneration and expenses of members of Board and committees.

PART 4

Chief Executive Officer

17.

Appointment of chief executive officer. (Repealed)

18.

Functions of chief executive officer and their performance by deputy. (Repealed)

19.

Delegation of functions. (Repealed)

20.

Chief executive officer to be accounting officer. (Repealed)

21.

Attendance of chief executive officer before Oireachtas Committees. (Repealed)

PART 4A

Chief Executive Officer

21A.

Appointment of chief executive officer.

21B.

Resignation, removal or disqualification of chief executive officer.

21C.

Functions of chief executive officer.

21D.

Delegation and subdelegation of functions.

21E.

Accountability of chief executive officer to committees of Houses of Oireachtas.

21F.

Membership of either House of Oireachtas or European Parliament.

21G.

Acting chief executive officer.

PART 5

Employees and Advisers

22.

Employees of Executive.

23.

Superannuation.

24.

Advisers.

PART 6

Standards and Disqualifications

25.

Standards of integrity.

26.

Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information.

27.

Disqualification resulting from membership of either House of Oireachtas, European Parliament or local authority.

PART 7

Accountability

28.

Interpretation (Part 7).

29.

Executive to prepare and submit corporate plan for Minister's approval.

30.

Publication and implementation of approved corporate plan.

30A.

Minister to determine net non-capital expenditure of Executive.

30B.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to determine net non‑capital expenditure of Executive.

31.

Executive to prepare and submit service plan for Minister's approval.

32.

Amendment of approved service plan.

33.

Implementation of approved service plan.

33A.

Power of Minister to make grants to Executive

33B.

Determination by Minister of capital funding and submission by Executive of capital plans

34.

Minister's permission needed for major capital spending. (Repealed)

34A.

Functions of Director General under this Part

34B.

Appearance of Director General before Committee of Public Accounts

35.

Code of governance.

36.

Accounts of Executive.

37.

Annual report.

38.

Arrangements with service providers.

39.

Assistance for certain bodies.

40.

Gifts.

PART 7A

furnishing of information and documents

40A.

Definition.

40B.

Duty of Executive to furnish information.

40C.

Requirement to furnish information and documents.

40D.

Minister may share information and documents in certain circumstances.

40E.

Use of information and documents.

40F.

Saver.

PART 7B

Accounting officer and audit committee

40G.

Director General to be accounting officer of Executive for specified period.

40H.

Audit committee.

40HA.

Provisions supplementary to section 40H

40I.

Functions of audit committee.

PART 8

Public Representation and User Participation

41.

National Health Consultative Forum.

42.

Regional health forums.

43.

Mechanisms (including advisory panels) to enable Executive to consult with local communities and others.

44.

Other advisory panels to be established on Minister's direction.

PART 9

Complaints

45.

Definitions (Part 9).

46.

Who may make complaints.

47.

Time limit for making complaints.

48.

Matters excluded from right to complain.

49.

Complaint and review procedures to be established.

50.

Refusal to investigate or further investigate complaints.

51.

Restriction on type of recommendations complaints officers may make and power to suspend implementation of recommendations.

52.

Adherence to complaint and review procedures to be condition of arrangements with service providers.

53.

Minister to make regulations for purposes of this Part.

54.

Referral of complaints to Ombudsman or Ombudsman for Children.

55.

Annual report to include report on complaints and reviews.

PART 9A

Protected Disclosures of Information

55A.

Definition of expressions in this Part.

55B.

Protected disclosure of information by an employee of a relevant body.

55C.

Protected disclosure of information by an employee of a designated centre.

55D.

Protected disclosure of information by an employee of a mental health service provider.

55E.

Protected disclosure of information in relation to regulated professions.

55F.

Applications and complaints about health professionals to be protected disclosures.

55G.

Protected disclosure of information: monitoring, investigations and inspections.

55H.

Duty of relevant body to establish procedures.

55I.

Adherence to procedures governing protected disclosure of information to be a condition of arrangements made by the Executive.

55J.

Duties in respect of protected disclosures.

55K.

Disclosure to a Scheduled body.

55L.

Protection from civil liability of persons who have made a protected disclosure.

55M.

Protection of employees from penalisation for having made a protected disclosure.

55N.

Proceedings before Labour Court. (Repealed)

55O.

Enforcement of determinations of Labour Court. (Repealed)

55P.

Evidence of failure to attend before or give evidence or produce documents to Labour Court. (Repealed)

55Q.

Interpretation of "penalise".

55R.

Continuity of employer’s business.

55S.

Making false reports.

55T.

Saver.

PART 10

Dissolution of Certain Health Bodies and the Transfer of their Functions and Employees, etc., to the Executive

56.

Definitions (Part 10).

57.

Dissolution of Comhairle na nOspidéal and transfer of its functions.

58.

Dissolution of health boards and other specified bodies.

59.

Transfer of functions of specified bodies to Executive.

60.

Transfer of employees of specified bodies to Executive.

61.

Transfer of pension liabilities relating to former employees of specified bodies.

62.

Transfer of property and liabilities to Executive.

63.

Preservation of contracts, etc., and adaptation of references.

64.

Pending legal proceedings.

65.

Preservation of orders, notices, rules, records, etc.

66.

References to specified bodies.

67.

Functional areas of dissolved health boards.

68.

References to chief executives of dissolved health boards. (Repealed)

69.

References to deputy chief executives of dissolved health boards. (Repealed)

70.

Dissolution of bodies established under Health (Corporate Bodies) Act 1961. (Repealed)

71.

Final accounts of specified bodies and other dissolved bodies.

72.

Executive to prepare final annual report for specified bodies and other dissolved bodies.

PART 11

Repeals, Transitional Provisions and Amendment of Other Acts

73.

Repeals and revocations.

74.

Savings and transitional provisions.

75.

Amendment of other Acts.

PART 12

Miscellaneous Provisions

76.

Effect of delegation and subdelegation of functions.

77.

Certificate evidence concerning delegation of functions.

78.

General power to make regulations and orders.

79.

Regulations relating to members of either House of Oireachtas.

80.

Laying of regulations and orders before Houses of Oireachtas.

81.

Savers.

82.

Offences.

83.

References to Board and chief executive officer.

SCHEDULE 1

Acts Referred to in Definition of Health and Personal Social Services

SCHEDULE 2

Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to the Executive and the Board

SCHEDULE 2A

Bodies and office-holders referred to in Part 9A as Scheduled Bodies

SCHEDULE 3

Transfer of Functions and References to Functional Areas

SCHEDULE 4

Repeals and Revocations

SCHEDULE 5

Savings and Transitional Provisions

SCHEDULE 6

Amendment of Other Acts

SCHEDULE 7


Acts Referred to

Adoption Act 1952

1952, No. 25

Adoption Act 1988

1988, No. 30

Adoption Act 1991

1991, No. l4

Adoption Act 1998

1998, No. 10

Adoption Acts 1952 to 1988

 

Adoption Acts 1952 to 1998

 

Adoptive Leave Act 1995

1995, No. 2

Births and Deaths Registration Acts 1863 to 1996

 

Blind Persons Act 1920

1920, c.49

Carer's Leave Act 2001

2001, No. l9

Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991

1991, No. 6

Child Care Act 1991

1991, No. l7

Child Care Acts 1991 and 2001

 

Children Act 1997

1997, No. 40

Children Act 2001

2001, No. 24

Children Acts 1908 and 1989

 

Civil Registration Act 2004

2004, No. 3

Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and lmmunities of Witnesses) Act 1997

1997, No. l7

Companies Act 1990

1990, No. 33

Comptroller and Auditor General Acts 1866 to 1998

 

Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993

1993, No. 8

Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003

 

Dentists Act 1985

1985, No. 9

Domestic Violence Act 1996

1996, No. 1

Domestic Violence Acts 1996 and 2002

 

Education Act l998

1998, No. 51

Education (Welfare) Act 2000

2000, No. 22

Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004

2004, No. 30

Ethics in Public Office Act 1995

1995, No. 22

European Communities Act 1972

1972, No. 27

European Parliament Elections Act 1997

1997, No. 2

Family Law Act 1995

1995, No. 26

Family Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997

1997, No. 18

Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976

1976, No. 11

Finance Acts 1989 to 2002

 

Freedom of Information Act 1997

1997, No. 13

Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003

 

Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998

1998, No. 29

Guardianship of Infants Act 1964

1964, No. 7

Harbours Act 1946

1946, No. 9

Health Act 1947

1947, No. 28

Health Act 1953

1953, No. 26

Health Act 1970

1970, No. 1

Health Acts 1947 to 1953

 

Health Acts 1947 to 2001

 

Health (Amendment) Act 2004

2004, No. l9

Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 1996

1996, No. 32

Health (Corporate Bodies) Act 1961

1961, No. 27

Health (Eastern Regional Health Authority) Act 1999

1999, No. 13

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001

2001, No. l4

Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990

1990, No. 23

Housing Act 1988

1988, No. 28

Housing Acts 1966 to 2002

 

Housing (Miscellaneous Pro visions) Act 1997

1997, No. 21

Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998

1998, No. 33

Immigration Act 1999

1999, No. 22

Immigration Act 2003

2003, No. 26

International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs Act 1987

1987, No. 20

Irish Medicines Board Act 1995

1995, No. 29

Licensing of Indoor Events Act 2003

2003, No. 15

Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act 1926

1926, No. 39

Local Government Act 2001

2001, No. 37

Maternity Protection Act 1994

1994, No. 34

Marriages (Ireland) Act 1844

1844, c. 81

Medical Practitioners Acts 1978 to 2002

 

Mental Health Act 2001

2001, No. 25

Mental Health Acts 1945 to 2001

 

Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2001

 

Misuse of Drugs Act 1977

1977, No. 12

Misuse of Drugs Act 1984

1984, No. 18

Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984

 

National Beef Assurance Scheme Act 2000

2000, No. 2

National Development Finance Agency Act 2002

2002, No. 29

Notification of Births Acts 1907 and 1915

 

Nurses Act 1985

1985, No. l8

Ombudsman Act 1980

1980, No. 26

Ombudsman Acts 1980 to 1984

 

Ombudsman for Children Act 2002

2002, No. 22

Organisation of Working Time Act 1997

1997, No. 20

Parental Leave Act 1998

1998, No. 30

Protection of Children (Hague Convention) Act 2000

2000, No. 37

Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003

2003, No. 29

Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001

2001, No. 45

Protection of the Environment Act 2003

2003, No. 27

Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998

1998, No. 49

Poisons Act 1961

1961, No. 12

Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002

2002, No. 6

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004

2004, No. 6

Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004

 

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004

2004, No. 33

Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act 1919

1919, c. 72

Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2003

 

Refugee Act 1996

1996, No. 17

Registration of Marriages (Ireland) Act 1863

1863, c. 90

Registration of Maternity Homes Act 1934

1934, No. 14

Residential Tenancies Act 2004

2004, No. 27

Sex Offenders Act 2001

2001, No. 18

Social Welfare Acts

 

Standards in Public Office Act 2001

2001, No. 31

State Lands (Workhouses) Act 1930

1930, No. 9

State Lands (Workhouses) Act 1962

1962, No. 8

Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act 1988

1988, No. 24

Tobacco Products (Control of Advertising, Sponsorship and Sales Promotion) Act 1978

1978, No. 27

Unfair Dismissals Act 1977

1977, No. 10

Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2001

 

Unfair Dismissals (Amendment) Act 1993

1993, No. 22

Vocational Education Act 1930

1930, No. 29

Youth Work Act 2001

2001, No. 42


Number 42 of 2004


HEALTH ACT 2004

REVISED

Updated to 1 March 2023


AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A BODY TO BE KNOWN AS FEIDHMEANNACHT NA SEIRBHÍSE SLÁINTE OR IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AS THE HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE EASTERN REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, THE NORTHERN AREA HEALTH BOARD, THE EAST COAST AREA HEALTH BOARD, THE SOUTHWESTERN AREA HEALTH BOARD, THE HEALTH BOARDS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE HEALTH ACT 1970 AND CERTAIN OTHER BODIES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DISSOLVED BODIES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES TO THE HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE; TO ESTABLISH MECHANISMS FOR INVOLVING PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES, USERS OF HEALTH AND PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN MATTERS RELATING TO THOSE SERVICES; TO ESTABLISH A STATUTORY FRAMEWORK FOR HANDLING CERTAIN COMPLAINTS RELATING TO HEALTH AND PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES; TO ESTABLISH MECHANISMS FOR THE FUTURE DISSOLUTION OF CERTAIN OTHER HEALTH BODIES AND FOR THE TRANSFER OF THEIR FUNCTIONS AND EMPLOYEES TO THE HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE; AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [17th December, 2004]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Annotations:

Modifications (not altering text):

C1

Functions transferred and references construed (1.03.2023) by Specialist Community-Based Disability Services (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 688 of 2022), arts. 2, 3, in effect as per art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 5-9.

2. In this Order, “relevant function” means –

(a) any function transferred by Article 4 of this Order, and

(b) any function transferred to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth by –

(i) the Health Act 2004 (No. 42 of 2004),

(ii) the Disability Act 2005 (No. 14 of 2005),

(iii) the Health Act 2007 (No. 23 of 2007),

in so far only as the function consists of, or is connected with, specialist community-based disability services, within the meaning of the Health Act 2004, or any such other function otherwise assigned to that Minister by any of those Acts.

3. (1) The administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any relevant function are transferred to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

(2) References to the Department of Health contained in any Act or any instrument made under such Act and relating to any administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) of this Article shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

...