Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)

I thank the Minister of State and his officials for coming before the committee. In the context of the registration of nursing homes piece, there is so much to be aghast at in this interim report we received last night. How is it that a company can buy a nursing home and effectively piggyback on the good work of the previous owners and not have to register with HIQA? If I wanted to set up a preschool facility in the morning with ten or 15 children, I would have to go through all sorts of hoops with Tusla. How has this Government allowed a situation to arise here companies are able to buy up nursing homes and not register with HIQA on the point of purchase?