Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The issue here goes beyond the two cases I have raised with the Taoiseach. I also raised these in writing with the former Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly. I also sent him photographs that Eamonn Kennedy's sister, Maeve, took of his injuries at that time. The Garda has also investigated the matter.

At the core of this is the concern among people about outsourcing care for citizens with a disability to the private sector. The care of our most vulnerable citizens is not compatible with the profit motive. Redwood is part of the privately-owned Talbot group that is contracted to the HSE to provide services. In December, HIQA reported that in this facility there were recurrent and lengthy durations of physical intervention; there was an incident in which a patient struggled to breathe and turned blue during physical constraint; and medication was administered by injection during episodes of challenging behaviour. HIQA further recommended that no new admissions be allowed until these issues were addressed. As the Taoiseach has said, we will see all of that working its way out in the upcoming period.

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