Hiqa boss was asked by care home to keep report offline

The chairman of Hiqa has confirmed he was asked by a nursing home operator to stop an inspection report from appearing on the health watchdog’s website.

Brian McEnery disclosed the encounter when he appeared before the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee to defend himself against accusations he was involved in a conflict of interest given his role as chairman of the Hiqa and his private role as a professional who advises nursing homes on financial matters.

He was asked to appear before the PAC after a story was published in a Sunday newspaper about a meeting he spoke at in October 2015.