Professor Cillian Twomey:

The answer to both questions is "Yes". As I said earlier, it is the case that not just private nursing homes but also public nursing homes and acute hospitals had difficulty accessing equipment. Each nursing home is now assured of a core quantity of PPE and, in the event of a surge, having rapid access to additional equipment as required. This also applies to gowns, gear and masks as well as oxygen. Whether they are public or private this has to be done. What may need to be worked out is an arrangement between the public and private sectors as constructed on shared responsibility of the funding arrangements for the care and support needed.