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

As someone who leaving the House, the unfailing constant in this House is the ushers and their friendly way they deal with us as we go from the front to the back benches and places in between. It is important that we acknowledge that. I also acknowledge the catering staff, cleaners and people you meet every day. This place could not work without them. They are absolutely fantastic.

I have raised many issues over the years. I welcome the module in the Covid inquiry that will deal with the approach to nursing homes, but 23 people died in Dealgan House, the only nursing home in the country the HSE took over because it was deeply concerned about what happened. Will the Tánaiste change the terms of reference to the nursing home module to include an examination of Dealgan House and what happened there?

This goes to the heart of our country. If people die in the way that those people died and we ignore them, that is not good enough. If they were children, would we not add them to the inquiry? They were older people, including people with dementia. They suffered and died and there was nobody there for them. That is why the HSE went into the nursing home. That is a fact. While I always recognise the good work of the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, I ask the Tánaiste to do that.

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