Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Butler for raising the issue of nursing homes, as she does on a regular basis. I, too, listened to Dr. Nabarro today and he rightly highlighted the challenges and tragedies in respect of the passing of people in nursing homes from Covid-19. He also said that Ireland has a very honest accounting of the numbers, which I do not think many countries can say when it comes to care homes. He also said that we have the widest circle of inclusion of all of the countries he had studied. Not to take away from the tragedy, I believe it is to the credit of our public health experts that we are shining a light and not ignoring the massive challenge that exists when it comes to nursing homes.

Deputy Butler is right when it comes to testing. This is a key issue. Last week, NPHET recommended that all healthcare workers in all nursing homes - public, private and voluntary - be tested weekly for the next four weeks. That is a very important development, which has been welcomed by nursing home staff and owners. The HSE was due to publish a type of single operating procedure to ensure there is standardisation and clarity as to how this was to happen. That was due either yesterday or today. My colleague, the Minister of State, Jim Daly, will meet the HSE and Nursing Homes Ireland on this issue this evening.

See this speech in context