Does HIQA have sufficient powers?
The recent RTÉ Investigates exposé, on a number of private nursing homes and the fall-out, has raised fresh questions about the extent of HIQA's powers or ability to regulate the sector.
A number of important facts emerged from the Oireachtas Health Committee today.
Firstly, HIQA said it has no power to fine a nursing home and that cancellation of a home's registration is the "nuclear option".
It also said it lacks the authority to go after a parent company, which may own a group of companies, that in turn own a number of nursing homes.
HIQA said that recent updates to its regulatory powers, "when fully implemented", will provide powers to investigate specific individual complaints, will mean extra enforcement powers and shorten the timeframe for escalatory actions.
Time will tell and these improvements cannot come fast enough to reassure families and residents.
We learned today that there are 95 nursing homes under additional restrictive conditions. This is a dynamic situation where restrictions can be imposed and taken away.
Many of the homes are run by the HSE, or small stand-alone private homes and not large corporate entities.
The big question was why it took RTÉ Current Affairs, rather than HIQA, to uncover the issues at Benevain Manor in Glasnevin and The Residence in Portlaoise.
A full HIQA report on the two homes is due to be sent to the Minister for Health and the Minister of State for Older People at the end of the week.
The Interim Report found that Beneavin Manor had reported almost 200 incidents related to alleged suspected or confirmed abuse of patients.
And The Residence had reported 40 such allegations.
HIQA said today around 14% of notifications from Beneavin were moderate risk and that each one was explored.
"We don't wait for a television programme for that. We review it," HIQA told the committee.
HIQA has sought assurances regarding the other 23 homes than Emeis own.
It has also referred matters to An Garda Síochána.
HIQA told the committee that 85% of all inspections are unannounced and that in Emeis centres, 91% of inspections were unannounced.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Irish Times
‘Nuclear option' to close nursing homes must be used, says Taoiseach
The 'nuclear option' to close nursing homes for significant failings 'has to be on the table', Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said, describing it as a 'fundamental power' of the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), the monitoring body. Mr Martin told the Dáil it was up to the Health Service Executive 'to resolve the consequential crisis that occurs when a decision to close is made. 'But we shouldn't baulk from that decision because of that.' He was responding to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who highlighted what they said was a lack of power at Hiqa. READ MORE Wednesday's debate followed the publication of Hiqa's interim report on the Emeis Ireland nursing homes – Beneavin Manor in Dublin and The Residence in Portlaoise on Tuesday night. Both featured in the recent RTÉ Investigates programme. Mr Martin said there were some 'very disturbing clear facts' in the report, citing the non-adherence to fire regulations. 'Now, to me, that's a red alarm,' he said, adding that when fundamental issues like the health and safety of residents are at stake, then closure is an option. [ Taoiseach Micheál Martin's Cork office vandalised amid 'personal threats' Opens in new window ] Ms McDonald said it was clear Emeis did not fear Hiqa. 'Quite frankly, they didn't give a toss about regulations or inspections,' she said. 'Little wonder, because Hiqa's hands are tied behind its back. They don't have the legal power to impose fines. The corporate entities that own these nursing homes are out of their reach. And Hiqa badly needs new powers'. She asked how it took an RTÉ programme to expose a scandal when the report showed there were 198 allegations of abuse at a single nursing home. Opposition smells blood in the water over RPZ changes Listen | 35:51 The Dublin Central TD said 20 years ago, 30 per cent of nursing homes were in private hands but that had since risen to 80 per cent. During testy exchanges, Mr Martin said Hiqa's powers had been broadened since 2017 and stressed that 'if there is a series of noncompliance as seems to be the case in respect of the interim report of Hiqa', the option of closure 'should be on the table'. Ms McDonald said the culture of abuse 'was obviously endemic, hard-wired into the operation of the homes, and went on for a very long time'. Ms Bacik said trust in the model of private and for-profit nursing home care 'has been shattered' since the RTÉ programme and that 'faith in the system of inspections has also been greatly damaged', requiring Government action. [ Ireland's EuroMillions winner bought their €250 million winning ticket in Munster Opens in new window ] The presentations of Hiqa's chief executive and inspectors at Wednesday morning's Oireachtas health committee had raised more questions than answers, she argued, claiming the chief inspector had been 'frankly evasive' when asked about reports of abuse in a third nursing home. Mr Martin said the power to cancel nursing home registrations existed and that it had been used in eight cases last year. 'It can and has happened,' he said.
RTÉ News
8 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Does HIQA have sufficient powers?
The recent RTÉ Investigates exposé, on a number of private nursing homes and the fall-out, has raised fresh questions about the extent of HIQA's powers or ability to regulate the sector. A number of important facts emerged from the Oireachtas Health Committee today. Firstly, HIQA said it has no power to fine a nursing home and that cancellation of a home's registration is the "nuclear option". It also said it lacks the authority to go after a parent company, which may own a group of companies, that in turn own a number of nursing homes. HIQA said that recent updates to its regulatory powers, "when fully implemented", will provide powers to investigate specific individual complaints, will mean extra enforcement powers and shorten the timeframe for escalatory actions. Time will tell and these improvements cannot come fast enough to reassure families and residents. We learned today that there are 95 nursing homes under additional restrictive conditions. This is a dynamic situation where restrictions can be imposed and taken away. Many of the homes are run by the HSE, or small stand-alone private homes and not large corporate entities. The big question was why it took RTÉ Current Affairs, rather than HIQA, to uncover the issues at Benevain Manor in Glasnevin and The Residence in Portlaoise. A full HIQA report on the two homes is due to be sent to the Minister for Health and the Minister of State for Older People at the end of the week. The Interim Report found that Beneavin Manor had reported almost 200 incidents related to alleged suspected or confirmed abuse of patients. And The Residence had reported 40 such allegations. HIQA said today around 14% of notifications from Beneavin were moderate risk and that each one was explored. "We don't wait for a television programme for that. We review it," HIQA told the committee. HIQA has sought assurances regarding the other 23 homes than Emeis own. It has also referred matters to An Garda Síochána. HIQA told the committee that 85% of all inspections are unannounced and that in Emeis centres, 91% of inspections were unannounced.
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Martin says ‘no issue' with bigger fines for nursing homes as HIQA in new powers & ‘change catalyst' call after RTE doc
IRELAND'S health watchdog does not have the power to tackle or punish big businesses that have taken over Ireland's nursing home industry, HIQA bosses confessed today. It comes as officials issued a grovelling apology over the failings that saw residents being abused and neglected in two homes that were exposed by an Advertisement 3 Beneavin Manor featured in a bombshell RTE expose Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved 3 Footage from the doc revealed neglect of patients Credit: RTÉ Investigates Both of these homes have since been hit with warnings that they could be closed down if improvements are not made with gardai also called in to investigate incidents covered in the exposé. And today Taoiseach He also said that closures have to be used as 'a real consequence' for some nursing homes that are neglecting residents. The Advertisement READ MORE ON IRISH NEWS The documentary revealed The Oireachtas Health Committee today heard that 198 allegations of abuse of residents had been made in relation to Beneavin Manor while 40 allegations of abuse were made in the Residence in Portlaoise since 2023. The health watchdog HIQA told TDs and Senators that both homes have been issued warnings that they could have their registration cancelled if drastic improvements are not made. The company – Emeis Ireland – owns 23 more nursing homes in Ireland with HIQA launching new inspections in each of these facilities following the RTE exposé. Advertisement Most read in Irish News HIQA CEO Angela Fitzgerald issued a grovelling apology to the public over the nursing home scandal following criticism that the watchdog had previously signed off on the homes. She said: 'The recent RTÉ Investigates, was incredibly distressing and I want to apologise to anyone who feels let down by HIQA as the regulator. LACK OF POWER 'What we witnessed in the programme should never have happened, and I hope that this can be a catalyst for change at a number of levels. 'I want to assure you that we have taken a number of steps to ensure the safety of residents and will continue to do so.' Advertisement The HIQA boss also revealed to TDs and Senators that the State's watchdog does not have the power to fine or punish big businesses that are now running our nursing home sector. Some 75 per cent of nursing homes in Ireland are now owned by private companies – an increase from 30 per cent just 20 years ago. Just 15 large companies are in charge of 10,000 spaces for people in nursing homes in Ireland. While HIQA does have the power to close down a nursing home, the watchdog does not have the power to go after the businesses that own the homes. Advertisement 'SYSTEM NOT WORKING' HIQA told the Oireachtas Health Committee that they would need to be given extra powers from the Government in order to go after businesses with fines. The Dublin TD claimed the 'State walked away' and allowed a 'corporate takeover' of the care of older people in Ireland. She said the 'system is not working' if 198 complaints can be made against a nursing home but there is no accountability until RTE's undercover reporters show up. Advertisement 3 Health Information and Quality Authority Chief Executive Angela Fitzgerald Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved
