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Irish Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Joe Canning: Everything is coming together for Tipperary at the right time
At other times of the year, momentum is something that you can build towards. At this time of the season, nobody wants to be looking for it. The reality with the hurling quarter finals , though, is that at least two teams arrive damaged every year, and a third team are probably licking their wounds too. This year, Tipperary are the team coming with their tails up. Even though they finished third in Munster, there's hardly a mark on them. They haven't lost a game since they were beaten by Cork at the end of April, and that game was a free hit once Darragh McCarthy was sent off in the first minute. That's the only game they've lost since the league final. In the last couple of months, everything has come together. They were very good against Limerick , good enough against Waterford , excellent against Clare and professional against Laois . Their under-20s won a brilliant All-Ireland against Kilkenny and the crowds have come back. The whole mood has changed. Liam Cahill started the season pleading with the Tipp supporters to get behind the team. The memory of them being outnumbered five-to-one by Cork supporters for a game in Thurles last summer would still have been fresh in his mind. READ MORE The embarrassment of that day is long gone. There were four teams in Portlaoise last Saturday for a hurling and football double-header and the biggest crowd was from Tipp, even though everyone knew they were going to win handy. For the first time since early in 2023, Tipperary have momentum. There's an energy about them. Half a dozen of the under-20s are on the senior panel and three of them have made a breakthrough this year: McCarthy, Sam O'Farrell and Oisín O'Donoghue. Tipp needed that injection of freshness. They have more consistency in key positions, and they needed that stability too. Ronan Maher is no longer going around putting out fires: he's their number six and that's it. Eoghan Connolly is the established full back now, even though there is a doubt about his fitness for this weekend. Jake Morris and Andrew Ormonde have been effective at centre forward at different times and both of them have been terrific. John McGrath has come back in from the margins and has had a brilliant championship at full-forward, and his brother Noel has influenced games off the bench. The only big change they've made during the championship has been with the goalie. Otherwise, the spine of the team has been settled. Tipp haven't had that for a long time. Tipp is the kind of place where confidence tends to take off. When the provincial championships were finished, I saw Tipp supporters online mapping out their path to Croke Park: Laois, Galway, then Cork. In their minds, Laois and Galway were just stepping stones. When the Tipp crowd came back, that kind of thinking was going to come with them. Micheál Donoghue made it clear that Galway didn't play in the Leinster final the way they had planned. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Galway are not in that place at the moment. I didn't think they'd beat Kilkenny in the Leinster final , but I thought they'd bring a performance. I don't think anybody thought it would be like the game in Nowlan Park a few weeks earlier. For an hour it was just as bad. Galway have been here before, coming into a quarter final on the back of a disappointing Leinster final. The pattern, though, is that Galway have usually come up with something. The last time Galway lost at this stage of the championship was in 2013, when Clare beat us. Since then, Galway's record is five from five. I can't remember any year when we were bouncing into the quarter finals feeling great about ourselves. In 2016 we had been poor against Kilkenny in the Leinster final and were hammered in the media afterwards, but we still came out and beat Clare. Galway blew a Leinster final against Kilkenny two years ago but played very well against Tipp in the quarter-final two weeks later. When you look back at the teams from that match, Tipp have made more changes than Galway in the last two years. I've heard people say that Galway are still depending on players from the 2017 team for leadership, and it's hard to argue with that: the two Mannions, the two Burkes, Conor Whelan. [ Tipperary are back in the groove and Jake Morris admits county minors helped light the spark Opens in new window ] But how many leaders do you need on a team? It's a funny thing. Before we won the All-Ireland in 2017, people were always saying that we lacked leaders. Players from the team of the late 1980s – the last Galway team to win an All-Ireland before us – were always giving interviews, pointing out what we were lacking. It used to drive me mad. New leaders will emerge in this group too but it's hard for younger players to step into that role when results haven't been great. Since the 2017 All-Ireland final, Galway have won just one championship game in Croke Park – against Wexford in 2020, at the height of the pandemic. For the last few years Galway have been coming up short in big matches. In that environment, it's not easy for young players to flourish. I'm certain that Galway will come up with something this weekend. After the Leinster final Micheál Donoghue made it clear that Galway didn't play the way they had planned. They've had a fortnight to sort that out. They obviously need more from their forwards: not just a higher work rate, but more scores. The whole package. Cathal Mannion's form has been outstanding but whatever he scores won't be enough unless others chip in. [ Galway's Fintan Burke bullish in advance of championship quarter-final against Tipp Opens in new window ] When Galway and Tipp met in the quarter final two years ago Conor Whelan scored 1-4 from play. That year he was playing in his customary position close to goal; this year he has been playing in the half-forward line. They need him there as a target for puck-outs, but it also means Galway's threat close to goal has been reduced. That's a hard balancing act. I'm convinced that we'll see a positive response from Galway on Saturday. I hope the Galway crowd turn up, but I wouldn't be sure about that. The Tipp crowd definitely will. They're on a roll. It might not stop this weekend.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Health
- 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.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Minister ‘has concerns' over nursing-home sector's increasing privatisation
Minister of State for older people Kieran O'Donnell said he has 'concerns' about the increasing privatisation of the nursing home sector, particularly in light of recent allegations of elder abuse and neglect at two centres. The Minister appeared before the Oireachtas health committee on Wednesday, after a programme by RTÉ Investigates highlighted instances of alleged abuse at Beneavin House, Dublin, and The Residence, Portlaoise. Both homes are run by Emeis, the largest provider of private nursing home beds in the State. The programme included footage of frail, older people, some of whom had dementia, allegedly being manhandled, 'forced' down into chairs, being left in chairs for hours, being left in incontinence pads for so long their clothes were soaked and being ignored when they pleaded for help to go to the toilet. Speaking to politicians, Mr O'Donnell said some 75 per cent of nursing homes in Ireland are privately run, adding: 'I would have concerns around the growth in the groups area.' READ MORE The Minister said the department commissioned a European body to look at the increased group ownership of nursing homes, and the potential risks of this both financially and in the case of quality of care. That report is due in September, he said, adding it will be 'considered greatly'. The Minister also revealed his officials have informed him of 'notifiable incidents' in two other nursing homes, one of which involved the gardaí. 'They were very serious incidents,' he said. In light of the issues highlighted in the Emeis-run homes, the Minister said it is his hope to bring forward safeguarding legislation 'as a matter of urgency'. Speaking at the same meeting, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), which regulates the nursing home sector, said it has a number of levers to ensure compliance with the regulations, with the cancellation of a registration being a 'nuclear option'. Last year, the HSE took over six nursing homes that were operated by private entities. Furthermore, the regulator said 95 homes have additional conditions attached to their registration as of June 5th. These conditions can relate to a number of things, including staffing levels, specific care procedures or the number of residents a centre can accommodate. It added that due to the 'changing landscape' of increased corporatisation, there is a need to change the regulatory framework. Angela Fitzgerald, chief executive of Hiqa, said under the current system the body can only direct individual providers to do something and it does not have 'powers' to direct corporate companies. 'We work on the basis of co-operation,' she said, calling for Hiqa's regulatory powers to be increased in this area. In a statement following the broadcast, Emeis Ireland apologised 'unequivocally' to all residents and their families. 'We recognise and deeply regret the breach of trust that has occurred in relation to the service standards we promise, and for any failure to uphold the dignity of some residents at all times,' the company said. A report by Hiqa on Emeis-run nursing homes is due by the end of this week.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Hiqa asks RTÉ for all nursing home documentary footage
RTÉ has said it will not hand over non-broadcast footage to The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) without a statutory obligation or legal order. Hiqa said it has asked the national broadcaster to provide all footage it captured in the making of an RTÉ Investigates documentary into standards of care at two nursing homes. Advertisement The programme highlighted serious issues at two centres – The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, Dublin – which have been acknowledged as 'wholly unjustifiable' by Emeis Ireland. Hiqa, which is responsible for inspecting nursing homes, said it had notified gardai about its concerns arising from the programme. The authority's chief executive, Angela Fitzgerald, told the Health Committee on Wednesday: 'We've also asked RTÉ to give us all of the footage because they have, maybe, more information than we currently have. 'We also need to be able to see it, because we need to make sure that every resident, not just the ones that were on the screen, are safe. Advertisement 'And they have agreed to cooperate with us and hopefully they will be able to provide the information we need.' In her written submission to the same committee, Ms Fitzgerald said that RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst confirmed that the broadcaster 'will assist us in whatever way they can'. Asked about the comments, a spokeswoman for RTÉ confirmed it was engaging with Hiqa – which is due to request a meeting with the documentary team. However, she said: 'Any assistance provided by RTÉ will be referenced by our own guidelines, safeguards, protocols and procedures. Advertisement 'RTÉ does not hand non-broadcast footage to third parties without a statutory obligation or legal order.' She added: 'Hiqa have now confirmed they have referred incidents evidenced in the RTÉ programme to An Garda Síochána.'
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Hiqa requires additional powers to regulate corporate nursing home companies
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) would require additional powers to regulate parent companies of nursing homes, the Health Committee has been told. The committee also heard that more than 15 per cent of the country's nursing homes are currently under some form of restrictive condition by Hiqa. Advertisement It comes after RTÉ Investigates examined standards of care at two nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland, formerly known as Orpea. The programme highlighted serious issues at two centres, The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, Dublin, which have been acknowledged as 'wholly unjustifiable' by Emeis Ireland. Hiqa, which is responsible for inspecting nursing homes, said it had notified gardai about its concerns arising from the programme. It also issued an official warning of cancellation of registration to the providers of the two nursing homes should they fail to implement significant improvements in the centres. Advertisement Hiqa chief executive Angela Fitzgerald told the Health Committee on Wednesday that the behaviour in the programme constituted a breach of 'basic human rights which can never be condoned'. She said the inspection agency was 'really sorry to the families directly impacted and the wider community'. A general view of Beneavin Manor nursing home in Dublin, Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) An interim report on Tuesday evening revealed that there had been 198 allegations of abuse to a resident at Beneavin Manor from January 1st, 2022 to June 5th, 2025, with 40 such allegations at The Residence Portlaoise between December 14th, 2023 and June 6th, 2025. Hiqa said it had also sought immediate assurances on the other 23 homes that Emeis Ireland owns, adding that it is clear it has significant work to do. Advertisement At committee, Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane said what was shown in the programme was 'cost-cutting by a corporate body leading to neglect of residents' and 'substandard' care. Asked if Hiqa had any powers to provide financial penalties against that corporate entity, Ms Fitzgerald said the authority that was not provided for under its legal framework. Ms Fitzgerald said the authority has power to regulate individual providers but said it does not 'currently have any powers' in terms of requiring large corporate entities overseeing several providers to take action. She said it was 'important that we have additional powers' for circumstances where it needs to act with such corporate entities. Advertisement She told the committee that there had been a shift towards large corporate entities in the nursing home space and said: 'We don't currently have powers to direct or require them to do anything – we work on the basis of cooperation.' Ms Fitzgerald added: 'I do want to put on record today that the vast majority of those corporate entities as well as individual providers cooperate and work with us – but regulation is there to provide both action and a deterrent. 'And I think it is important that when there's a changing landscape, that we pause and look at whether we need additional regulatory powers to deal with circumstances such as this.' Responding to a follow-up question from committee chairman and Social Democrat TD Padraig Rice, Deputy Chief Inspector Susan Cliffe said the approach taken by the authority begins with engaging with the provider and escalating through a process that includes advisories, cautions, and additional restrictive conditions on its operations. Advertisement She added that it ends with cancellation of service or forced closure as a 'nuclear option'. Pressed on what additional measure could be taken against companies following cancellation that would prevent them from opening a different nursing home, Ms Cliffe said: 'I think we have the powers at the moment to regulate each individual nursing home, vis a vis the company that runs that nursing home. 'What we're talking about at a higher level is, if you would have the powers to go above that to the company that owns all of these companies, that's what doesn't currently exist.' Ms Cliffe said the minister has discussed that potential with the authority. Hiqa also told the committee that 95 of the country's 548 nursing homes are under 'additional restrictive conditions', 53 of which are HSE operated or funded. The RTÉ Investigates documentary highlighted vulnerable people being left unsupervised, large amounts of residents congregated together being supervised by one member of staff, and requests for the use of toilets being unanswered for lengthy periods of time. It also showed some staff not using proper hoisting equipment and shortages in necessary items like incontinence pads. Mr Rice, the chairman of the committee, said the programme was 'very difficult and disturbing viewing'. Emeis Ireland issued an apology to to all residents and their families for 'the suffering and distress experienced as a result of failures identified in the care provided'. It said it recognised and deeply regrets the 'breach of trust' and 'any failure to uphold the dignity of some residents at all times'. Emeis Ireland said it has commenced a comprehensive review across both nursing homes.
