Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)

I thank the Minister for her statement on the Farrelly commission report. Yesterday, the Taoiseach took exception to my raising the need for an urgent meeting of the Oireachtas disability matters committee with the Minister and Ms Farrelly SC on the inquiry and the report. He warned against politicising the issue and he emphasised the Minister's independence from the commission, and I fully accept that independence. However, there is an urgent need to take political responsibility for what happens next. There are legitimate and serious consequential questions to be asked of the Minister in that respect. The disability matters committee needs to explore how evidence from Grace's legal representative can be given expression and incorporated into the findings of the inquiry. It was really shocking to hear earlier this week that it was not referred to anywhere in the report or incorporated into it.

We need a clear timeline on the introduction of adult safeguarding legislation by the Department of Health. I am sure that the Minister will need to work closely with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on that, given the particular vulnerabilities of disabled people to abuse, neglect and exploitation. From my experience working in mental health services, I have seen at first hand the vulnerability of people with intellectual disabilities in those circumstances without the legislative framework to protect them. The Irish Association of Social Workers and other agencies have been calling for this legislation for many years. In the absence of mandatory reporting, vulnerable adults are more at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Crucially, we also need to know what plans the Minister and the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, have to hold accountable HSE managers who allow harm to occur to vulnerable people in their care.

Grace is part of a tragic series of failings by the HSE along with the Brandon and Emily cases. Lack of accountability is at the heart of that wrongdoing. In the case of Brandon, multiple disabled residents of a HSE-run facility in County Donegal suffered serial abuse for over a decade with the full knowledge of management. In the case of Emily, HSE managers attempted to obstruct an initial review into the possible abuse of nursing home residents in light of the conviction of a care assistant for the rape of Emily. Grace was left in a foster placement for many years where she suffered chronic neglect and was at clear risk of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

There must be accountability by HSE managers. We need to see a clear timeline for a legislative framework for the protection of vulnerable adults. We need to see the full evidence that has been shared by Grace's legal representative.

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