Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

Eight nursing homes had their registration removed last year. It has happened and can happen. Looking at the protected disclosures and the list of complaints in respect of these nursing homes, one could argue that the case merited that type of intervention. However, I think the interim report contains an argument made by HIQA that the profile of one of the nursing homes was completely changed from the time of the inspection in November to February. That is what HIQA is saying in terms of numbers and so on and the nature of them. Legislation on its own is important, but so are behaviour and obligations. Nursing homes have obligations. Some very good nursing homes fulfil their obligations. There is a more fundamental point, which we should come back to again as an Oireachtas, in terms of what the balance is between public, private and home care. Most home care will be private.

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