Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the Minister of State's swift engagement with HIQA following the RTÉ broadcast. I welcome the interim report he requested. However, these events have exposed long-standing weaknesses in both oversight and accountability. I have the following five questions.

First, regarding independent oversight, will the Government now commit to independent to commissioning a full and independent audit of HIQA's effectiveness, governance and inspection procedures?

Second, when will the Government introduce adult safeguarding legislation, as recommended by the Law Reform Commission? Will it include mandatory reporting of abuse and the legal recognition of care partners? Will it give safeguarding social workers a legal right of entry to private care facilities?

Third, in regard to systemic flaws, how will the Government respond to the structural issues that continue to allow poor care to persist? We cannot excuse abuse or neglect on the basis of staff shortages or the aftermath of Covid any longer.

Fourth, regarding complaints and accountability, what actions will be taken to create a fit-for-purpose complaints mechanism for social care? HIQA does not handle individual complaints, the Ombudsman will not examine clinical matters and "Your Service Your Say" is limited to the HSE, yet 81% of all people in long term care are in the private sector. How will the Government close this gap?

Question five concerns privatisation and the future of social care. In light of these failures, is it time for a fundamental re-evaluation of how we deliver long term in Ireland? Will the Government consider a moratorium on further privatisation and instead begin building a system that prioritises public provision, transparency and dignity?

Our older citizens deserve care that is safe, dignified and humane. As the Minister of State is well aware, the public is outraged. Their trust in oversight is broken and only truth, accountability and reform will rebuild it. This committee must not shy away from the scale of that task. Today, we need more than explanations. We need commitments, timelines and the political will to deliver a real change. The public is watching.