Mr. Peter Tyndall:

We have worked closely with Nursing Homes Ireland and continue to do so. We developed the model of complaints policy which is used by its members and which we have provided for all nursing homes. We have helped it with training in that regard. Most recently, Ms Hanrahan ran a webinar into which large numbers of nursing homes across Ireland logged for a training exercise. Generally we have good links.

Coming back to the issue of the contract, the contract should be modified to include security of tenure or at least sensible notice periods. I suggest there have to be reasons for notice being given, that it cannot just be done, as it can be at the moment, without reason. That is an important point. In the end I think the contract probably needs to cover more of the areas HIQA identified as requirements. The funding has to reflect this. It is the only practical solution to the problem of leaving people with more disposable income. We made an input early on into both of the processes that were under way, the process of revising the contract and the process of looking at the additional charges, but we have not had recent engagement on either. That may well be because work is ongoing actively and we will hear about it when it has reached a conclusion. I would not want to draw any inference from that. One of the things I will say is that when processes are under way to make improvements, some of which reflect issues raised in our reports, as an office, we are always happy to engage in those processes and participate in groups. I will give an example. We are doing a follow-up report to A Good Death, the report on end-of-life care. There is a working group in which the Department and HSE have been actively involved. We have been engaged with the working group throughout. We do not push out reports and leave them to sink or swim. We are quite happy to engage and will do so again, if requested.