Mr. Gary Kiernan:

I hope the committee can hear me a bit better this time. The area of registration overall has been greatly expanded and improved. The enforcement powers within the registration section of the revised scheme require that we assess whether the premises will be satisfactory before a centre of approved inpatient facility can be registered. As Dr. Finnerty pointed out, it is important that the 2006 regulations are revised in parallel with the Act so that they include detail on the appropriate premises standards. The commission will then be able to make an assessment as to whether a premises will comply with those regulations when determining whether a facility should be registered. The legislation is certainly strengthened in that regard.

With regard to the closure of centres, as Dr. Finnerty has pointed out, it is really important to note that all of those arrangements are in place. They are set out in the statutory instrument setting out the 2006 regulations and require that a care plan be in place, that there be consultation, that notice be given to us three months in advance and that appropriate arrangements are made for onward transfer in consultation with the resident. The revised scheme transfers this into the Act, the primary legislation. All of those provisions are now in the scheme of the Bill to amend the 2001 Act. That will strengthen these provisions further, to monitor them more closely and to take more direct action should we have concerns.