Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The problem is that people view the Government as not taking any action on foot of the information it is given. There were five complaints about Leas Cross since December 2003 but nothing was done. The Minister of State, Deputy Callely, was informed of a serious case, in a different nursing home, where the consultant described the bedsores as the worst he had ever seen. The Taoiseach said on 1 June that the strongest inspectorate, because it is a dedicated unit, is in the former Northern Area Health Board where Leas Cross is located. If that is the strongest inspectorate, and given the consequences of that kind of inspection, notified or not, is the Taoiseach satisfied the inspectorate regime for other nursing homes throughout the country is sufficiently clear for action to be taken? When the consultant submitted his report did the Tánaiste, in her capacity as Minister for Health and Children, call in the official who received that report, in respect of which no action was taken? Irrespective of whether it was a draft or final report but given the explosive nature of its content, why was no action taken between receipt of the report and the broadcast of "Prime Time", when all hell broke loose?

When does the Taoiseach expect the report to be published or is it being held up by management in the Leas Cross nursing home? This is of considerable interest not just to the relatives of the patients involved but to the entire population. It no longer has any confidence in the Government because there is no leadership and nobody on the Government side seems to care about what is happening.

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