Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One of the most difficult decisions for any family to have to take is to place a loved one in a nursing home. It is a very difficult decision. The least people can expect is that the dignity of their loved one will be respected at all times and that their loved one will be looked after, cared for and not be subjected to the abuse, neglect and unacceptable behaviour revealed in the "Prime Time Investigates" programme. I pay tribute to RTÉ for the important programme that dealt with this issue.

There is a fundamental obligation on the nursing homes concerned, and all involved, to look after people in their care. In no circumstances can the abuse of people be tolerated. People have a right to expect that level of care.

Additional measures to strengthen the powers of the chief inspector of HIQA have been granted from 2017 up to 2021 and onwards. A range of additional measures, capacity, power and so on were outlined in the interim report of HIQA published yesterday.

There are some very disturbing and clear facts in the interim report. For example, 61% of the homes in question did not adhere to fire regulations. That is a red alarm. There is a power to close nursing homes, which is sometimes described as a nuclear option. In my view, when things are at the level as revealed in this report, in terms of more fundamental issues like that, where clearly the health and safety of residents is at stake, that is an option.

I know it brings with it a whole range of issues but it is one that in the past used to be invoked and the HSE would be engaged. We are all familiar with HIQA investigations and reports in which it would have recommended closure. People would ask about their loved ones and ask where they should go but there does come a point if it reaches a level. The lack of compliance in a number of key areas is clear in the report. The one that jumps out, in my view, is with regard to the fire regulations. There are other aspects of either partial compliance or non-compliance. This is deeply traumatic for the families involved. In our system approximately 75% of our nursing home centres are in private hands, 20% are publicly owned and approximately 3.5% are section 38 or section 39 organisations. The fair deal scheme was the last major intervention trying to facilitate making it more affordable for people in respect of sending their loved ones and placing their loved ones in nursing homes.

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