Labour calls for urgent reforms in eldercare

• State must take control of Emeis 27 nursing homes

Labour’s Health Spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD has confirmed that the Labour Party will use its Dáil Private Members’ Time tomorrow, Wednesday, 2nd July at 10am to bring forward a comprehensive motion to curb the influence of big business in the nursing home sector. The move comes in response to harrowing revelations by RTÉ Investigates into poor standards of care in Emeis nursing homes. Labour is calling for immediate State intervention in the operation of these homes and long-term structural reforms to restore trust in eldercare.

Deputy Sherlock said:

“Twenty years on from the Leas Cross scandal, RTÉ journalism has once again exposed distressing and unacceptable standards in private Irish nursing homes. What’s changed in that time is the scale. Back then, 30% of homes were privately run — today, it’s nearly 80%. That shift has created a system where, for some operators, profits come before people.

“Emeis Ireland, with 27 nursing homes, is now one of the largest players in the sector. What we saw on RTÉ was nothing short of a national disgrace. The State must act swiftly and decisively to protect the welfare of residents. That means taking over the operation and management of every Emeis-controlled home immediately. It happened during the pandemic — it must happen again now.

“There is a deep crisis of confidence in HIQA’s inspection process. While the current review of Emeis facilities is welcome, it is not enough. Families need reassurance that their loved ones are safe. Residents deserve dignity and care, not to be caught in a system that allows operators to cut corners to maximise margins.

“In the medium term, the State must begin a programme to permanently take these homes into public hands. We also need to stop big business from dominating the sector. The current model is not working. The care of our elderly cannot be left in the hands of profit-driven multinationals.

“This overhaul must begin with radical reform of the Fair Deal scheme. That means an end to opaque, individual negotiations between the NTPF and providers. Instead, we need clear service level agreements, ring-fenced funding for staff pay, rules on property ownership, and proper accountability across the board.

“We are also demanding new legislation to set minimum staffing levels and ensure fair pay across all nursing homes — public or private. It’s time to put care first.

“Labour is urging all parties to support our motion. The public has lost trust in this system, and rightly so. We must act now to protect residents, hold providers to account, and build a care system that truly values the dignity of every person.”