Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Taoiseach about the HIQA report into nursing homes which contained some very damning observations. It is absolutely apparent that nursing homes did not conform to any satisfactory level of clinical governance and were left without the human and practical resources necessary to protect residents and staff. We know how all of this ended. It ended with many people losing their lives with many families to this day shattered by that traumatising experience.

We need to know what happened in the nursing homes because we need to put right the wrongs of the past number of months. We also need to prepare ourselves for the real possibility of a second surge, as well as to prepare ourselves for the autumn and winter. We need to be absolutely sure that those living in nursing homes are properly cared for and that their families and the wider community have that confidence.

I propose we establish a special Oireachtas committee to speedily, efficiently and compassionately examine what happened in our nursing homes. I propose the Taoiseach would support the establishment of this committee.

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