Results 241-260 of 26,356 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Will the Deputy repeat that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Very briefly, as stated, if HIQA, requires additional resources, it should let us know. It has got additional inspectors. The number now is 43. I am not aware of the issue the Deputy raised in respect of turnover. On the strategic workforce advisory group's report, it is something I have engaged on with the officials. It is also something I am prioritising.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am very much open to meeting with the trade unions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I might take the questions in reverse order if that is okay with Senator Costello. I have covered staffing levels. A task force report is due to come to us without delay. In terms of individual complaints, measures are to be brought in whereby, in cases leading to death or serious injury, HIQA will be able to carry out investigations. That is something we very much want to expedite. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will take Senator Ryan's question first. Is she speaking about specific funding to nursing homes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: HIQA is the independent regulator, and it has a number of tools. One is that it can put a restriction on the number of residents in a home. A second measure is to deregister a nursing home, in which case the funding ceases.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Absolutely. I assure Deputy Clarke that I want to bring forward safeguarding legislation as quickly as possible. In the programme for Government we have committed to bringing forward a safeguarding policy. The Government must give approval to proceed with the legislation on safeguarding. I want to bring it forward as quickly as possible, in conjunction with the Minister, Deputy Carroll...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I accept the point. It is unforgivable that there were not adequate supplies in those nursing homes. It was neglect.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: We will consider everything in the round in terms of the safeguarding itself. For me, it is once again about improving at all times the lives of people in nursing homes, and more particularly making them safe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Burke. The point he raised is something the Department is very conscious of, as I am. As I said earlier, the Department of Health commissioned the report with the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies to specifically look at it last January. It will look at the growth of groups in Ireland delivering nursing homes and the risk that poses in terms of them failing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: There are two things on that. The Department of Health and the HSE have a productivity and savings task force that is looking at that particular point around savings related to public nursing home beds. We need a mix. I want to promote and expedite the provision of public nursing home beds but we must have a sustainable model in the private. There are a lot of family-run nursing home, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is something that is hugely important to state as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I would like to see that research the Chair has provided. We have an empirical body of work ongoing with the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies to specifically look at the growth of groups and what the Chair said about their large increase in delivery of healthcare. That sector is regulated as well, and there are good nursing homes there. As I have come into the role now,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: It comes down to individual nursing homes. HIQA is regulating across the sector, whether that is in the public, private or voluntary sectors. It is about that individual nursing home. The Chair might provide that research that he has and I will follow up on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: On the safeguarding policy, you can refer them. They do not have a legal right of entry but with regard to the regulation for safeguarding, that is there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Invariably, nursing homes, in virtually all cases, will allow the HSE to enter. That is something that is there. Once again, we still need the legislation and that is why I want to bring it forward as a matter of urgency.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Work has been done with regard to the regulations and the legislation by both HIQA and the Mental Health Commission in terms of safeguarding in nursing homes. You also had the national safeguarding office being set up in the HSE and it has put teams in there. On a practical level, they are there. For me, it is in the programme for Government, and I can only operate in the role I am in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Once again, the fines issue came up in the committee hearing today, which I heard for the first time. They are available to us. HIQA can go to the District Court and there can be fines, potentially up to €70,000, along with prison sentences. On the measures it has, one is the ultimate, which is to close. It has measures in respect of restrictive conditions to stop the nursing home...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Cahill might bear with me. No, I have not met the Emeis group. It would not be appropriate. HIQA is carrying out inspections and investigations with regard to the group. We need to let it do its work. It is important. I do not want to in any way interfere in that process. There is a body of work ongoing with the Emeis group, and it is something I take very seriously. Senator...