Mr. Tadhg Daly:

Regarding representation, yes, I believe having a voice for the sector, whether a nurse working on the front line, staff working in the sector or indeed older people themselves, on NPHET would have made a difference because it would have raised the issues on the agenda.

The Deputy pointed out that the first discussion was on 12 March. I contend that having a voice for the sector and older persons on NPHET would have been important.

HIQA is the independent regulator for public, private and voluntary settings. It is on NPHET, but so is the HSE, which is a provider of care through its own public facilities. Clearly, the private and voluntary sectors were not represented on NPHET. HIQA can speak for itself this afternoon, but its role is more about regulation than representing the voice of the sector.

Regarding the Deputy's third point, I have spoken to many parliamentarians over a long number of years about the voice of older people. In my role, I represent the providers of care, but-----