Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The HSE reports for 2016 to 2020, the period for which the most recent figures are available, show that there were abuse concerns expressed in the cases of 16,000 vulnerable adults over the age of 65. The human rights of these older people have been ignored and trampled on. The concerns relate to physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse in HSE settings. We need to vindicate the rights of those older people. We need a statutory safeguarding authority with sweeping powers to protect and vindicate those rights, and hold the perpetrators accountable.

In January, the Taoiseach told me that options were being considered to meet the concerns and needs of the families of the 23 who died in appalling circumstances in Dealgan nursing home in County Louth during the first outbreak of Covid-19. We have heard nothing since from the Minister. What is the outcome? What is going to happen? Will this Government be seen to act to vindicate the rights of those people?

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