David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will use one of Mr. Breslin's own analogies from a previous meeting in putting my next question. Does he believe that the HSE and the Department sent enough firefighters to support the residents of nursing homes? Does he accept any level of the commentary - criticism might be a strong word but, certainly, there were strong assertions - from the nursing home sector that there were real challenges in regard to a shortfall of PPE and testing and that there was, as nursing home owners see it, a lack of a comprehensive plan and no underpinning with funding and resources? There were an awful lot of very emotional things said by people who manage nursing homes and I am conscious that there are families who are bereaved. I am not putting the blame for this on any individual but it does strike me that the Department and the HSE are maybe being a little overly defensive on this issue. It is always better to acknowledge if there were mistakes made or there was not sufficient time or, for whatever reasons, the supports were not put in place. It should be acknowledged that this is what happened rather than just saying, "We did everything possible", when we have the nursing home sector saying that is not the case.