The Taoiseach has said he looks forward to guidelines governing home care service providers being brought forward 'very quickly'.
Speaking in the Dáil, Brian Cowen said statutory regulation had to be looked at 'as a matter of urgency' but that guidelines had to be introduced as a first step.
Responding to last night's Prime Time Investigates, the Taoiseach said there were clearly issues that were simply not acceptable, which needed to be investigated and looked at closely.
He said the vast majority of services were being provided by the HSE and reputable service providers, but there were some unscrupulous providers.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the Minister with Responsibility for Older People had promised legislation on this area last year and now it was being promised in the spring.
The Taoiseach apologised to the families of the people whose treatment was shown in the programme.
He said he regretted the digression from the highest standards of care that was expected.
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said the reason such incidents were taking place was because the Government had made it more difficult for families to look after older people.
He cited cuts in home help provision, home help hours and the difficulties in getting the carer's allowance.
Mr Gilmore called on the Taoiseach to state when the statutory guidelines would be introduced.
Earlier, a group representing 50 private home care providers to elderly people across the country agreed that statutory regulation of the sector is badly needed.
In a statement, the Home Care Association said it has been calling for such regulation for many years, and emphasised that none of its members were the subject of the programme.
Charity group Age Action said the documentary highlights the urgent need for regulation of the home help service.
The programme followed a four-month undercover investigation, which found evidence of appalling standards by a number of home care providers.
The Health Service Executive said it is to review standards of care provided to 65,000 older people who are looked after in their own homes.
HSE Spokeswoman Cate Hartigan says elderly people with concerns should have nothing to fear by making a complaint.
The HSE's information line, 1850-24-1850, is open 8am-8pm, Monday to Saturday, for anyone who wants to report a concern in relation to home care services.
The executive said 102 calls were received by 5pm. Nine of the calls related to complaints by clients receiving care.
The HSE says all concerns will be handled sensitively in co-operation with the client and their family.
