Mr. Tadhg Daly:

Yes, on a few points, please. The nursing home sector is arguably the most highly regulated part of the health service. HIQA will be appearing before the committee in the afternoon.

Not alone does HIQA have the authority but it also has the responsibility, if it sees standards that are not acceptable, to close a home. That responsibility rests with HIQA.

I have met many Members of this House over the last while. We hold an Oireachtas open day every year and we have met many Members at that. I spent eight or ten weeks last year coming in to meet Members one-to-one on the issue of a continuum of care. We need to develop a suite of care services for the older population and Nursing Homes Ireland members are doing it already in many cases and we will not be found wanting in our responsibilities.