Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I still have not mastered taking off a mask while wearing earrings. This has been a very informative session, which has covered a great deal. I note the number of solutions each witness provided, as opposed to simply identifying the issues.

This session is helpful in that rather than simply naming the situation, the witnesses are offering a number of solutions with regard to how we can address it. That is good for us as a committee in our follow-up after this session in terms of support.

I would like to focus on Safetynet and, in particular, the Roma community. I gained some experience from my work on the Safetynet helpline throughout Covid. I am aware of the work Safetynet does across direct provision and different counties, including in Summerhill and in the hubs. It spans a wide area. Dr. O'Reilly mentioned that services at one of the Safetynet clinics are inadequate. Are they inadequate in terms of provision because of manpower and funding? What more could be done with more adequate funding streams and different initiatives?

I ask the witnesses to keep note of my questions. We have spoken a little about the fear of particular communities and the lack of translators. What is the human cost of that? What is the impact of it? Safetynet deals with a large community. Is a large part of the Roma community completely underground because of the experience of Roma people in terms of them receiving no healthcare? What is the impact of not having a translator for those who fear being deported?

Maternity services were mentioned a number of times. Are Roma women and girls giving birth at home and, as such, living completely under the radar even at that stage? What is the health status of members of the Roma community on presentation and are the services that the witnesses can provide at that stage adequate enough given the level of comorbidity and so on? I ask Dr. Skuce to comment on the impact on transience and constant changing of address in terms of healthcare provision. For example, in the case of a healthcare intervention, are people lost along the way because they are constantly moving? What happens to their healthcare? Is it constantly interrupted? I ask the witnesses to speak a little more to the impact on people's health status because of the issues identified today.