Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the experts. I agree that this is an excellent report and that it is looking to the future, while also taking account of some of the issues that happened in the past. If I were to take one line from the report, it is that where the authors state, in a narrative that is hugely important, that high-dependent patients can live happily at home. What I take from all of this sadness, the Covid deaths, and all the issues that have arisen, is the fact that we should try, at all costs, to make sure that people stay in their homes for as long as possible. We need to provide them with the facilities and care in their homes. That is the happiest and the safest place for them. Even people who are frail can be looked after well at home. That is what I want to happen. If I am correct, in summary of all the recommendations, the panel is talking about a change in the model of care and making sure that people have better outcomes towards the end of their lives.

Unfortunately and sadly, that has not been the case in respect of some deaths that have occurred in nursing homes. I will not name them as they are well known to the public. One of the panel's recommendations, recommendation 15.3, deals specifically with families who have had no closure as a result of the deaths and have not had full explanations and states "The Department of Health should explore a suitable structure and process for external oversight of individual care concerns arising in nursing homes, once internal processes have been exhausted without satisfaction." That is the case right now in respect of a home in County Louth and another in County Meath. What do the members of the panel see as a suitable structure for those aggrieved, for the families who have suffered grievously as a result of deaths which are to date unexplained and unaccounted for to them? How do they see it working?