Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)

I will fire through my questions. I have just realised I am extremely chaotic; my questions are everywhere. My first point is more of a statement than a question. I have been heard culture and cultural issues being mentioned but I never hear personal responsibility mentioned any more. Do people actually take a look at how they are behaving? Does anyone reflect on how they carry themselves in a professional or caring setting? There is a basic need for common decency. All of us need to look towards ourselves because the idea of culture and more culture has worn thin with me. At the end of the day, we are all people and we can all make decisions on how we treat others and conduct ourselves in work.

Will the witnesses elaborate on how an independent safeguarding authority would differ in practice from current structures? Mandatory reporting was mentioned, as was the fact that not everything needs to be reported in that manner. What specific scenarios would require mandatory reporting? How can HIQA's safeguarding role be strengthened without duplicating social work efforts?

When it comes to advocacy services and their regulation, what specific risks arise from having untrained advocates in safeguarding scenarios? What particular qualifications or training should be required for independent advocates?

Coercive control was also mentioned. Should legislation be introduced to extend the range of relationships beyond those set out in the Domestic Violence Act 2018?

To return to advocates, the age-friendly co-ordinators are working well in my community. This is a programme provided by South Dublin County Council where advocates go out to older persons. They are a brilliant link who give advice and let people know what their entitlements and rights are. We also have great age-friendly housing schemes. Through infill projects in our community and downsizing, people are getting to live independently in the community. This is working well. Towards the end of my time on South Dublin County Council, I could see these people bedding into their new housing and having lovely, comfortable environments to live in. While they are independent and have their own front door, there is also a little community hub. Should we look at, acknowledge and speak about what is working well? There are so many negative things happening that we sometimes drown out the positive. People do not realise there are good options available. I am a huge advocate for age-friendly co-ordinators because they are trustworthy people who really care. I have dealt with them personally on several occasions. People like that and programmes that are being done and regulated properly should be embraced.

In respect of the nursing home situation, there should be financial penalties and accountability. The nursing homes in question took money from people to provide care and then abused them. The money should be taken off them because people were paying for a service and ended up being abused. That is where I stand on that. I do not understand how the nursing home company in question is still in operation after an investigative journalist uncovered what was going on with that same company in France, which caused its share price to plummet. It is disgusting. There should be financial penalties. Every penny those nursing homes took from the people affected should be returned because they did not provide the service people signed up for.