Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Cahill might bear with me. No, I have not met the Emeis group. It would not be appropriate. HIQA is carrying out inspections and investigations with regard to the group. We need to let it do its work. It is important. I do not want to in any way interfere in that process. There is a body of work ongoing with the Emeis group, and it is something I take very seriously.

Senator Costello made reference to the funding. All the nursing homes in the Emeis group have, at the moment, a restrictive condition in place where they cannot increase their numbers. If people leave those nursing homes, they still cannot - let us say it is a certain figure - keep the figure at that level. If people are leaving, the number just goes down.

The broader funding question is a matter for HIQA. In our overall review of the inspection regime and regulatory regime HIQA operates under, I will consider everything to improve the current process, always with the aim of improving the quality of healthcare and providing a safe environment for older people in nursing homes. That is my primary concern.