David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)

After all of the television programmes and the Leas Cross case, which dates back 20 years, the need for adult and safeguarding legislation was called for. The Minister of State came here today and said the Minister will bring a memo on policy. There is no legislation and the same applies to the programme for Government. We do not even have the heads of a Bill, which is not good enough. We do not have safeguarding legislation for adults. We have had a myriad of failures where adults in nursing homes, disability centres and a foster home have been badly let down. There is no mandatory reporting of neglect or abuse. There is no legal right of entry for social care teams. Despite me and others, including experts in this field, calling out the Government for years after every scandal, the Minister of State has come in here today and there is still no safeguarding legislation. Will he give us a date for when that legislation will come before the Dáil?