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

I thank the Minister of State and acknowledge, as I stated at the outset, her absolute commitment to her work. I support her and believe she is doing her best, but the Government is not doing enough. I wish to make that clear. Where is the commission on care that was promised in 2020? There is no sign of it. Where is the commissioner for older people? There is no sign of him or her. I know these are rhetorical questions. Where is our care and concern? There is no justice or closure here.

I refer to a lady whose husband died of sepsis in a nursing home after a head wound became infested with maggots. She has received no justice. I asked the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, whether he was aware of the case and if he could confirm it had been referred to the Garda. The reply stated: "I have not been made aware of any referral of the nature referred to by the Deputy." I am deeply unhappy with the Minister for Health and the Government for not doing enough to protect the vulnerable in society and stand up for them like the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, does. I acknowledge the pain and hurt caused to those families.

Imagine if somebody in your family was raped. These were vulnerable elderly women. How more vulnerable can you be than having some evil monster coming in to do that to you in the middle of the night during a Covid pandemic? I would like the House to have a proper debate in the next week or so on all these issues. I want the Government to do the job it promised to do but is not doing. These people are not being protected enough, notwithstanding my concern and that of the Minister of State. We need the Minister of Health to come to the House to account for his lack of action on and attention to the care and welfare of older people in society. I condemn him for not standing up for them and not fulfilling the programme for Government.

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