6. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health her plans to strengthen the inspection and regulatory regime in HIQA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34932/25]

Sentiment score: 0.11

We are all reeling from the revelations about Beneavin nursing home and the nursing home in Portlaoise in recent weeks. It is clear that HIQA has given a wide berth to nursing homes when it comes to its inspection regime, which is in sharp contrast, I might argue, to how other authorities regulate, such as the Food Safety Authority and the Health and Safety Authority. I wish to hear from the Minister and Ministers of State as to how the inspection and regulatory regime will be strengthened within HIQA.

Sentiment score: 0.47

I thank the Minister. There are four clear systemic issues within HIQA at the moment, notwithstanding that it is a much-trusted institution in the public's mind. That confidence has been dented, however. Clear legislative change and clarity are needed in four areas. The first issue is in regard to the licensing. I welcome what the Minister is saying about the licensing of corporate institutions and their intervention into the market. The second issue is the inspection regime. There is a large degree of ambiguity as to the point in which HIQA can intervene on the basis of an individual complaint or its own inspections. The third issue is enforcement. It is crazy we are having this debate about whether it can fine. While HIQA has powers to go to the District Court, it has never used them. The final issue concerns liability. There is a glaring gap in that regard. Liability on the part of directors does not appear to be pursuable. While staff are going to be pursued for wrongdoing, and rightly so, there must also be liability on the part of the directors.

Sentiment score: 0.09

There is an added piece with regard to leadership. In the responses at the health committee last week, in the instance of Beneavin nursing home, there is 100% non-compliance with fire safety systems in that building. We were told that it does not relate to the structure, but rather only to the fire systems. If the fires systems are not fully operational, there is an immediate fire risk. It may not happen today or tomorrow, but it could happen at some stage and there is a very real patient safety risk. To hear that sort of response and lack of urgency on the part of the leadership of HIQA is deeply troubling. There needs to be very clear action taken to ensure that the leadership team of HIQA is fit for purpose.

Sentiment score: -0.07