David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will recall it again because it is still a sore point for me and the people I represent who asked me to go to that centre. I was asked to come in my capacity as a councillor by residents of the centre who had established a residents' association. I arrived at the time they had asked me and the centre manager told me that because I had not been given her permission, I was not allowed to be on the premises or take part in the meeting. I told her that I had no difficulty with that and asked to reschedule and I was told that there would be no rescheduling and that I was not permitted to meet with the residents.

When I asked was it a place where people lived or was it a prison, I was asked to leave and gardaí were called, although they never came. I had to meet the residents outside in the rain. I have not been granted access to the centre subsequently. Is there any provision in the service level agreements whereby if the people who live in the centres have grievances with the centre, they can interact with their public representatives. Ms Phillips or myself would have the right to form a residents' association. Can any of the officials say why it would be the case that public representatives would not be allowed to meet residents in the place where they live to discuss issues which affect them where they live?