David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The IASW has raised with us a number of genuine concerns that go to the heart of the need for adult safeguarding legislation and a statutory basis for the framework. Currently, there is no legal right of entry for any independent inspector or social work team into a private nursing home. This is one of the issues that arose in many of the investigations. The IASW wrote in its submission: "The HSE has further proposed that in future, safeguarding social work teams will have a 'quality assurance' oversight function only, and will no longer work directly with adults who have experienced neglect or abuse." What is the commission's view on this statement? Is it helpful and does it raise a matter that we should be considering? The IASW does not agree with the HSE's proposal. Its submission also reads:

The IASW suggests that Safeguarding and Protection teams have been given an impossible task, carrying responsibility to protect and expose institutional abuse within their own organisation, the HSE, as well as services funded by the HSE. Yet they have no legal authority to even enter private homes or nursing homes within our current legislative framework.

Is this the type of issue that the commission will consider when making recommendations?