Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have had much failure over many years in regard to the provision of the care of the elderly and we have not necessarily put in place those pieces that we should have. Everybody welcomes the greater level of enforcement powers for HIQA and the necessary reforms, and we will support this Bill. However, I do not think it goes quite where it needs to go. Of course, it provides for compliance notices for the Chief Inspector of Social Services and improved data collection, which is necessary so we have a notion of the needs and wants. However, HIQA has sought a lot more. It put in requests in 2013, 2017 and again in 2021 and made comprehensive proposals in regard to the powers that it needs. We need to see that.

As much as we need to see improved compliance notices, we also need a more flexible enforcement system. That will include failure-to-comply notices and the ability to more robustly attach, enforce and direct the implementation of conditions that relate to operating licences. We know the issues in regard to making sure HIQA has the powers in all the settings where it needs to be able to investigate, keep an eye on issues and make sure we are looking after our older people. We know everything that is needed with regard to safeguarding and there has been a failure concerning the legislative requirements in that area. This Bill is a start but there is a lot more to do. It goes without saying that we have had considerable conversations as to where the weaknesses are, not only in regard to elder care in residential settings but also in regard to home care. There is no shortage of proposals and no shortage of requirements to follow through on them.

I will also raise the issue of Dealgan House, where at least 22 people died from March to the middle of May 2020. The Minister of State met the families and is aware of the huge work they have done, sometimes facilitated by politicians. They put in a huge amount of work in regard to freedom of information requests, FOIs, and have engaged with every element of the HSE and with every official who deigned to talk to them, yet they still do not have the full information on what happened to their loved ones. We are still hopeful. We would like to see more information on the Covid-19 inquiry and whether we will be looking at a module in regard to nursing homes. Will we have something that can substantially provide what the Minister would have called a mechanism to provide these families with the answers that are required? We need to deal with any failures there have been and how we can improve things into the future. It is necessary that we look at everything and provide them with the best means to reach a point where justice meets closure.

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