Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is no excuse for poor communications between a nursing home provider, management and staff, and the relatives of residents. That should be an obligation of the provider. The provider should ensure there is such communication. Part of the HIQA inspection framework will encompass that dimension of that. That is important. We need answers in relation to the specifics here in this case.

We need to evaluate how the nation responded to the pandemic. Deputy Barry's point about private sector provision and public sector provision in healthcare and elderly care is a separate issue. In the context of Covid, one can certainly derive lessons from it. It is a much bigger issue - we should not pretend it is not - in terms of the broader financing of healthcare into the future, particularly with changing demographics. There will be an enormous bill for the State into the future. It is necessary, but how one organises and funds and provides for that is a huge question in itself and perhaps needs a separate exercise that could be collectively engaged in by the Oireachtas.

See this speech in context