Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

It is a fact that the Minister of State put people into nursing homes. The question is whether there were adverse medical reports on these nursing homes.

Everyone wants things to be right and to change. There is no reason the Dáil cannot sit next week. There are models for legislation in England, which is one of the best in the world, New Zealand, Canada and America. There should be no difficulty structuring legislation in this regard but the Government has neither the will nor the intention to do it. People continue to be put at risk in nursing homes.

A local chip shop can be closed if it breaches hygiene regulations but the Minister of State cannot close the Leas Cross or Rostrevor nursing homes because the High Court has ruled he does not have the power to do so. That will continue until the law is amended and the Government should do so now.

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