Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

With respect, we are short on time. The guests from Nursing Homes Ireland told us in the earlier session that it was looking at international experience. Was it the case that Nursing Homes Ireland was way ahead of where the HSE was? It wanted the testing because it was looking at asymptomatic patients. The HSE refused that point blank time and again. It was looking for PPE that was not coming. Most importantly, it instigated visitor restrictions that NPHET - including members from the HSE - overturned. Was it not the case that Nursing Homes Ireland was ahead, that the HSE and the Department of Health were unfortunately behind the curve with the restrictions and supports that were needed and that as a result of this virus, we have unfortunately seen a huge loss of life within these settings?