John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The transcript of these three sessions today should be sent to all of the negotiators and leaders of the parties forming the next Government because we have heard about the failure of public policy in so many areas today. The officials present can account within that policy but this House has failed in the care of the elderly, the respect shown to them and the care they deserve at this time in their lives. We also failed with the disability sector and the section 39 organisations, which were mentioned earlier. We did not touch on those in depth at all. However, when I asked a question of the HSE about the funding for section 39 organisations, that question has still not been answered and those section 39 organisations that provide services in group settings and houses do not have the funding to meet today's public health requirements. I am being told that by a number of different organisations and we are letting them down in this House if we do not insist on getting the appropriate answers from the HSE and every other body that is associated with this.

On direct provision, what we are again experiencing is the failure of a policy that has been implemented by successive Governments for the past 20 years because we have deliberately ignored the most vulnerable in society. These people who come to our shores are vulnerable. For a long time, Members of this House have been highlighting in Second Stage debates of legislation the faults and failures in the care of the elderly, the disability sector and the direct provision facilities. The finger clearly points at us here.

I am not asking the witnesses to comment on the following issue that has arisen but they can do so if they want. So many different Departments and Government agencies that are involved in this deal with their business almost in silos. They do not connect with each other as successfully as they should. There is a clear effort being made by many concerned to deflect, obfuscate, ignore the double standards that exist and move on.

For example, in today's hearing the Chairman or Acting Chairman read out before every session that one shall not refer to an individual in such a way as to make her or him identifiable. Witnesses are asked to refrain from that.

Today, we heard the centres being named where Covid had been identified. That is in the direct provision setting but when it came to the care of the elderly the Department was asked not to do that. There are double standards that cannot be ignored and we have to deal with them. Ms Buckley, when the Department offers or awards a contract, what oversight kicks in from there on to ensure that the rights of the people in these settings are protected? We constantly refer to public health standards and advice but I think we should be guided about what we would want to do in the name of humanity and compassion rather than just tick a box. How does the Department oversee the contracts that are offered? Does the Department have inspectors? Does it report back? What does it do with breaches and so on?