Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Cahill. To address the points he raised, starting with independent oversight, HIQA representatives just attended at the committee. HIQA is carrying out a review of its processes. It has acknowledged that they need to be reviewed. In terms of further oversight, it is something we are considering in the Department. Along with the Minister, we will make a recommendation to the Government on how we proceed with that.

Regarding adult safeguarding legislation, the Minister is due to bring to the Cabinet an adult safeguarding policy. This is mentioned in the programme for Government. Included in that will be the requirement for legislation. That legislation is already in the legislative programme. I will be looking to expedite that.

Regarding systemic flaws, a couple of things have come out. HIQA has now come back and made a recommendation on the regulation of groups. There are a couple of points. One, we need to regulate the parent. Two, we have to make changes to address nursing homes changing hands in any form. Currently, if a nursing home is a sole trader and is bought by another person, that new person has to re-register. If a nursing home is a limited company and there is just a change in the shareholding, it does not have to re-register. It just has to inform of the change. I want it to be the case that a nursing home that changes hands in any form - by way of purchase as a sole trader or purchase as a limited company - must go to HIQA for re-registration. That should be an absolute.

HIQA has brought that forward on foot of the work it has done now.

The Deputy referred to protecting the future. I have concerns about growth in the groups area. Last January, the Department commissioned a body of work from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies to examine the growth in the group structures in Ireland and assess the risks involved if they were to fail and in cases of poor care. The report is due in September and we will give it consideration. Given that we will always have some element of private sector involvement, the critical point is that the standard of regulation is key. Changes need to take place and the Government will work on that.