Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have to put in perspective what I am dealing with as Minister of State with responsibility for older people. HIQA has issued a clear directive that it does not believe the premises is safe and that there is a fire risk. I have to listen to that. As of 27 February, 40 residents had been transferred from Cherry Orchard campus. There are 22 residents still on site. I know the families are not happy, but I have to put patient safety first. I met Bernard Gloster, chief executive of the HSE, last week. Mr. Gloster and his team are engaging with the families. As far as I am concerned, however, when it comes to the care of older people, I cannot take a risk when it comes to fire safety. These people, 40 of whom have already been moved, remain in the care of the HSE. They have moved to a different facility and will be moved back as appropriately as possible. However, we cannot have a situation where we have residents in a facility that HIQA will not be able to register because it is a fire safety risk.

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