Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of all the people who have passed away in our nursing homes and in our society as a result of Covid-19. I recognise absolutely the hurt and pain people have, particularly when loved ones pass away in a nursing home. They do not get to see them or say goodbye. It is an appalling vista which is brought about by the nature of the virus itself. I also acknowledge the tremendous work of all our health service people, workers in nursing homes, care assistants, cleaners and people who help out in every way. These people do fantastic work, often for very poor wages and without proper recognition.

I have met Mr. Quinn and communicated with him. I have appealed some of his decisions to the Information Commissioner in the past, in an effort to get transparency around the care of people in nursing homes. I wrote to him on Tuesday, 24 March seeking an entitlement which I believe the people had at the time and still have, namely, a categoric assurance from HIQA that all nursing homes and care homes are fully compliant in infection control. The reason I wrote the letter was the HIQA report to which I referred earlier, which indicated that, at the time, only 123 of the 581 nursing homes subject to HIQA inspection met in full all of the regulations. I did not get that commitment from Mr. Quinn. While I note what he is saying here today, as I understand it, he has to be accountable. The office of the HIQA chief inspector has statutory responsibility for the registration and inspection of nursing homes and other residential services for children and adults with disabilities. As part of its remit, HIQA can inspect nursing homes and make binding decisions relative to the safety and quality of care provided to residents following inspection. That is the statutory power HIQA has. I note Mr. Quinn's call for additional powers, with which I do not disagree. Why was Mr. Quinn not able to give that categoric assurance to me and, more importantly, to all of the residents that all of the homes they were living in were fully compliant in infection control? Clearly, we both know they were not. That is my first question.