Ms Angela Fitzgerald:

I think we can all understand that fear. That is well established. We have to be fair. There are 23 individual providers which are part of the Emeis group. They are being subject to a programme of inspection. Each of those will be evaluated and then we will be in a position to say what is required. That does not mean that people cannot have a view right now based on their own experience of what they witnessed. However, as a regulator, we have often been challenged for taking decisions in relation to the closure of nursing homes in specific areas. We have to be proportionate here. It is very appropriate that I give a human response, because I am a human, but it is also important, as the regulator, to give a proportionate response, which is to say we have a job to do, a programme of work is under way and we have agreed to give that report to the Minister. We are giving him the reports as we continue. That will inform appropriate regulatory action.