David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Is it the case then that the model being examined is that there will be an agreed clinical guidance framework, in which the Department will have a role in framing, and the responsibility for delivering that will be with the individual nursing homes? Will there be any role for HIQA in respect of that?

The most distressing parts of the two reports were the testimonies from family members and relatives of loved ones who passed away or who had experiences of being in nursing homes during a difficult time. We all accept that. It was difficult for the staff in those nursing homes as well. One issue which arose was that HIQA does not have the power to examine individual cases of neglect or abuse. We have seen several such cases raised in this committee, on the floor of the Dáil and elsewhere. There seems to be a weakness in that it is not clear how those individual cases can be dealt with. There is much to be learned about Covid but there are also those issues.

I thank Dr. MacLellan for her explanation of the framework. Those individual issues are rare. Most nursing homes provide an excellent service, as do most of the staff. However, when those instances of abuse and neglect occur, they need to be ruthlessly dealt with and there has to be a process in place. Does the Department support giving HIQA more powers to deal more comprehensively with those types of issues?