Partners Yvonne Joyce and Alison Kelleher spoke at the workshop in Dublin on Monday.

Following a ministerial consultation with stakeholders, it is expected that regulations introducing pre-action protocols (PAPs) will be implemented shortly, introducing what Comyn Kelleher Tobin calls a “cards-on-the-table” approach to clinical negligence litigation.

Workshop participants were briefed on the requirements under the PAPs and the new statutory process of voluntary open disclosure of patient safety incidents and the statutory protections in respect of how an apology given to the patient can be used subsequently.

CKT provided an update on the proposed introduction of the Patient Safety Bill, providing for mandatory open disclosure of serious reportable patient safety incidents.

The workshop concluded with a lively discussion on the interaction between the Patient Safety Bill and the existing statutory and regulatory regimes promoting a culture of candour within the healthcare profession.