Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What we all must realise is that behind all the figures from Loughrea, Owenacurra and St. Brigid's, and we can rattle off Clifden, St. Brigid's in Portlaoise and St. Patrick's in Cashel, there are individuals and families. Sadly, that seems to be what the HSE, HIQA and those in power seem to forget. As we said, I think it was to St. Brigid's, when we had the HSE in, they told us it was an opinion. That is why they finished up closing St. Brigid's. No individual, including a Minister, should have the power, because he or she sits at a meeting and has an opinion, to close down any setting that we all have heard stories of again today without consulting the local community and the families that are in these situations. As Senator Craughwell said, every one of us and every one of them will get old, whether they like it or not.

I would hate to think that in a couple of years if we are all in those situations, there would be someone sitting around the round table who has an opinion on a Tuesday night that a place will be closed down. I might have an opinion on Dublin Airport outside on the runway; that does not mean I can fly a plane. I question why many of these people who make these decisions are in those positions in the first place. A lot of it is who they know. They just do not care about the individual or about families. Do members want to ask any more questions of the Loughrea concerned citizens group?