Results 301-320 of 6,339 for speaker:Paul McAuliffe

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: There is agreement of the committee on that. Do any other members wish to contribute? No. Regarding our work programme, the Dáil will be in summer recess from today. The committee has agreed to return on 18 September to discuss financial accounts and statements laid during the recess and any correspondence. It has also been agreed to invite the following witnesses to the committee...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: I thank Mr. McCarthy. We move to our other witnesses. As the officials can imagine, there was significant concern from members about what was portrayed in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme and they intend to ask questions about that. We hope the officials will be able to provide reassurance but also deal with other questions that have been raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General....

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: We will suspend for a break at 12 noon and resume shortly afterwards. I will now open to floor to members. The lead speaker is Deputy Cathy Bennet. The Deputy has 15 minutes.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: The Deputy is over her time.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: Perhaps that is something other members might take up.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: Deputy Dolan is over the time.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: Go raibh maith agat. I thank Deputy Dolan. I call Deputy Ardagh.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: This morning, we engage with the Health Information and Quality Authority to discuss its 2023 financial statements. From the authority, I welcome Ms Fitzgerald, Mr. Finbarr Colfer, chief inspector designate, Mr. Sean Angland, chief operating officer, Mr. Sean Egan, director of healthcare regulation and Ms Susan Cliffe, deputy chief inspector with responsibility for older persons services....

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: With the agreement of committee I will take my slot now to prevent us having to reschedule the speakers list. Ms Fitzgerald stated there is a dent in the armour. The stronger phrase is that the trust in HIQA and the regulatory regime has been damaged. I have seen a particular impact because Beneavin nursing home is in my own constituency. I wish to acknowledge the immediate briefing...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: All three nursing homes were inspected on one day.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: How many times has HIQA attended the three nursing homes?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: People will be somewhat reassured by the frequency of inspections since then. In those subsequent inspections, has anything been discovered that posed an immediate threat to the health, safety or welfare of the people within the nursing home that would warrant its closure?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: Many people will have made the decision to place a relative there on the basis of the previous HIQA reports, which effectively gave the centres a clean bill of health. The question arises, how can a clean bill of health be issued for a nursing home in which an undercover investigation - "undercover" might be the operative word - discovered a very different reality? What can Ms Cliffe say to...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: When Ms Cliffe mentions the resident profile, she means there was a higher level of dependency.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: I am glad Ms Cliffe mentioned both management and ratios because the issue of ratios arose frequently in the programme. I believe HIQA does not have a required ratio like the ratios in childcare. Is that the case?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: Does the Department have any comment on that?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: It is accepted that standard ratios are an important factor and should be in place.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: When did the Department come to that conclusion?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: I know the previous Minister of State with responsibility for older people provided additional funding and powers to HIQA, which is reflected to some degree, but the issue of the ratios is key.