Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I thank my colleagues, Deputies Twomey and McManus, for tabling this motion and I appreciate this opportunity to speak on it. It has been a dark number of months for the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive and, in particular the Minister, Deputy Harney. She has failed the people, patients, families and everyone else involved in nursing homes.

I am disappointed that the Minister, whom I admire, has had this report since June; it is now November and she has failed miserably to take any serious action on it. She can promise the putting in place of any social inspectorate, but the only measure that will make a difference to a nursing home or to people in care is an totally independent inspectorate to reassure families that their mother, father, aunt or uncle are safe in the care of a nursing home.

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