Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. They might give me written replies to some of the following questions. In its report, HIQA outlined its engagement with nursing homes from 25 March, referring to 2,500 phone calls and so on. Will the witnesses outline the work that was undertaken between 1 January and April 2020? They stated earlier that it was in the second week of April that HIQA issued the revised regulatory assessment framework to nursing homes. In fact, that was on 21 April, which was in the third week of April. The first death occurred on 13 March. What happened between 1 January 2020, when the virus was breaking out in various parts of Europe, and then? What level of preparation was carried out by HIQA to communicate with nursing homes and raise awareness of infection control and so on?

I seek a response to the following in writing. What are the qualifications among HIQA inspectors, specifically in respect of infection prevention and control? I acknowledge that the witnesses cannot give me that information now but I would like to see it in writing.

The third issue I raise relates to retraining. Every one of us has to go through retraining. I am a practising solicitor, so I have to complete 20 hours of continuing professional development every year. We are talking about inspectors. Since 1 January 2020, what courses or retraining have any of the inspectors completed in respect of infection control and of updating their skills regarding this issue?

This is very important because there is a significant gap between when the issue was first highlighted and when HIQA issued its first guidelines to nursing homes on 21 April. While we have all the information relating to the engagement with nursing homes after 25 March, we have nothing relating to the period 1 January to 25 March.