Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The legislation is being prepared. It is legislation which will include inspectorates for a range of areas, not just nursing homes. That is under way.

I do not have details or knowledge about the case to which the Deputy referred but I imagine there are other cases too. The reality is that while there is an inspectorate, it should fully cover medical, nursing and environmental inspectors. It does but it has not sufficient presence. That was clear from the programme and from complaints like the one to which the Deputy referred.

The lesson from this is that we need stronger legislation. As we all know, stronger legislation, if not implemented, means nothing. Really what we need is an inspectorate that has conformity, that is unified, that conducts more inspections and that obviously will have more staff without which it could not do the work. In the meantime, the current regulations allow for many of these matters anyway. The HSE is determined over the period ahead, not only with Leas Cross but with some others it has mentioned, to work with the individuals and the nursing home association to try to get action. That is the truthful and honest position.

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