The Chief Executive of HIQA has described as "critical" the need for legislation to protect vulnerable adults, including older people, adults with intellectual disabilities and people with mental health issues.
Phelim Quinn told RTÉ's This Week programme that HIQA had been calling for such legislation since 2014.
However no such legislation is listed on the Government programme of legislation for the term of the current Dáil.
Mr Quinn said that the HSE "haven't actually got a legal status in relation to the protection of vulnerable adults".
He said this hampered the HSE's ability to conduct investigations into abuse allegations or concerns.
"The HSE doesn't have the right of access, doesn't have the right of entry or, for that matter, the right of access to information on that individual," he said.
Mr Quinn described the lack of legislation to facilitate this as "a significant gap".
The HIQA chief called for "very, very specific safeguarding legislation for vulnerable adults".
He said this should grant the HSE "the ability as a lead agency of the state to lead on inquiries into what are actual or potential safeguarding circumstances".
Mr Quinn told This Week that HIQA is seeking "something akin to Children First legislation", under which adults could be removed from risk and protected from abuse swiftly by social care workers.
