Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

As a good Galwegian, I would not have much time for Tipperary or Kilkenny. I really think we need to have HIQA and the HSE in here. We need to find out what the decision was that ultimately led to the closure. It strikes me from what the witnesses are saying that Covid came along and it provided the ideal vehicle to ship everybody out. As soon as the Covid thing passed then it was closed down. There is not a whole lot more this committee can do than bring in those responsible and get them to answer for the decisions that have been made.

I wish the witnesses well in every way. I am sorry that this has happened to their community. Places like Carrick and down around that neck of the woods are very closely knit and people are very supportive of one another. It is a wonderful part of the country and the people there deserve more than what they are getting. At least they deserve some straight answers. If there is a cost factor involved then let us hear what it is and see how we might meet that. I propose that both HIQA and the HSE be brought in to answer the questions that are there.