Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The State has a long, sorrowful and shameful history of failing those within its care. Women, especially mothers, and children have endured the brunt of that long, sorry history. Whether we are talking about survivors of institutional abuse or the degradation of babies' organs; those responsible for delivering justice not only failed to deliver it but actively sought to deny justice. What invariably follows exercises in the pursuit of justice are attempts to delay and defer. Actions taken are rarely done in an accountable way and never in a timely manner.

This is not the first scandal involving nursing homes. Twenty years ago, the Leas Cross scandal led to the establishment of HIQA. At that time, a Fine Gael TD remarked:

There is a growing sense that "Michéalitis" is continuing in the Department of Health and Children. Deputy Martin was the epitome of this affliction. He always had to have another report from another commission. The current Minister is acting in the same way on this important matter.

Micheál Martin is back in office, this time joined by Fine Gael, and it seems the affliction described now equally affects Ministers of both hues.

My predecessor as Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, had the measure of the Government of the day when he remarked: "The Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats partnership has had nearly a decade to get health policy right and it has failed miserably. At the root of this is the Government's refusal to take a rights-based approached to healthcare." The crux of the matter is, indeed, the failure to take a rights-based approach to healthcare, namely, the right to dignified, adequate care for all people in their later years. HIQA will have to account for itself but Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil must account for their absolute failure in this area, which has ensured the shameful scandals of the past continue, shamefully, to thrive in Ireland today.

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