Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

Since the airing of the "RTÉ Investigates" programme on national television, families feel terrified. They do not know what way to turn.

My constituency office in Killarney, County Kerry, is inundated with queries about home care. Those queries are asking what is available to families to look after their loved ones at home. Many of these would be under extreme pressure to be able to cope at home but they are turning away from private nursing homes following the recent scandal. There is no doubt about that.

Regarding sanctions, penalties, suspensions, termination of contract, what has happened in that area? As the Minister of State will know, I raised the issue of the company involved coming before the Joint Committee on Health, that I am a member of. The company should be brought in. There is no doubt about that. At the end of the day, it is ultimately responsible for what has happened in both of those homes. Both homes were in receipt of millions of euro of taxpayers' moneys. There should be accountability here. The idea of our elderly people being afraid of going into long-term care is frightening. It is a sad day and a sad reflection on our society in this day and age in 2025. The sad thing about it is that all other nursing homes are being tarnished because of this. There has to be accountability.

We have great community hospitals in Kerry. We have some of the very best. We have wonderful directors of nursing, matrons, nurses, doctors, carers, caterers, cleaners, etc., in places such as Cahirciveen Community Hospital, Valentia Island Community Hospital, St. Joseph's nursing home in Killorglin, St. Columbanus home in Killarney, and the list goes on. I plead with the Minister of State to bring about accountability here and bring those responsible before us, particularly at the Joint Committee on Health as that would be a good starting point. I do not see any reason they should be allowed to refuse. I have seen that happening at the Committee of Public Accounts recently. That is another issue I have commented on publicly already. Anyone invited in should be brought in.

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