David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

One of the problems that surfaced during Covid, and it is an area I feel very strongly about, was a lack of safeguarding laws and supports in nursing homes. It is my understanding that HIQA can only examine system failures. It does not have the power to initiate an inquiry into an individual incident in a nursing home. I understand no authority has that power. That needs to be looked at. I would argue that this Bill has to go hand in hand with improving safeguarding laws as well. I know there are commitments and promises of safeguarding legislation. I just want to put it to Ms Casey that this needs to be done. How does she envisage there being a link with safeguarding teams, social care teams and social workers in the context of what is being proposed here?