Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join other Members in welcoming the Minister of State to the House. I thank the Fine Gael group for making available its Private Members' time to deal with this issue. It is a very serious issue and not a political football. Before I left my office to come to the Chamber, I noticed many files. If I had wanted to bring the set of files on the underwhelming performance of previous Administrations, I could have done so. I did not do so, however, because I want to talk about the revelations contained in the programme on Monday night.

Perhaps this debate could focus more on ways to improve the circumstances that obtain rather than on what could have or should have been done in the past. There is collective responsibility throughout the Houses of the Oireachtas and in all parties. There are many reasons for failure but no excuses. If we could focus on conceptualising ways to improve this situation in the best possible and most efficient manner we would be better served than through playing political football, hamming on this issue or repeatedly going back over the past. However, the statistics show that this Administration and the one immediately preceding it did more for the elderly than any other Government in the history of the State. That is a fact.

The elderly are the most important section of our society. When the great history books are written at the turn of the next century, if the names of any of the political entities in these Houses are remembered it will only be because of the elderly of today and in the future. These are the people who laid the foundations that allowed the birth of a Celtic tiger or an environment where an economy such as today's could thrive.

As a result everything that can be done for the elderly should be done. If that means sacrificing services for the young and healthy in other age groups, then it should be done willingly, and to that end we should be prepared to make that sacrifice.

I watched Monday night's "Prime Time" programme. It was the first one of these investigative programmes I had seen and it was excellent. I am delighted the national broadcaster is putting its funds to such positive use, helping us to get to the root of many of the problems that still exist. It was a very good, courageous and pioneering programme. We need more of this kind of programming and I look forward to the next one and the subsequent debates in this House about the issues they bring to our attention on which we are not focusing enough time. That has to be positive. It is not political football, but politics and democracy at work in a positive way.

As Senator Feeney has said, what the programme showed was appalling. I do not believe anybody would like to stand over it. I do not want to be facetious, but I immediately thought that my 11 month old son will have to face a codicil in my will to ensure he is not going to put me into any home.

We have an aging population, with about 11.3% over the age of 65. The Central Statistics Office predicts that by 2030 that percentage will have more than doubled to 24%. A great many things must be done in terms of helping to alleviate such problems and to ensure they do not happen again. Everything possible must be done for the elderly, so they get the care they deserve and need.

Both the Minister of State and Senator Feeney alluded to the fact that most of us would like to be cared for in our own homes in old age. I like to think that is the direction in which we could go. Senator Feeney has mentioned some of the many schemes already in operation in this regard. I would like to see those further expanded, so anybody who has a condition which can be cared for at home should be provided for. The necessary financial arrangements or grant schemes should be put in place to encourage this approach. If tax incentives or other schemes are needed, these should be put in place. For those who cannot afford such arrangements there should be some waiver schemes whereby through State intervention this facility may be offered.

Obviously, everybody cannot be cared for at home. Some conditions require long-term residential care in nursing homes. I agree with much of what Senator Ryan had to say on the specific issue. Perhaps none of us could have expected that there would have been abuses as shown on television last Monday. I was shocked. I am sure that every self-respecting person was shocked that people abused their positions in the manner they did and perpetrated the types of mistreatment that were shown. It is completely unacceptable. Now that we know about it, however, there is a clear need for an independent inspectorate. We do not need one that phones in advance to say in effect, "Listen, we are going to call around tomorrow, so get the house in order." Can the House imagine if gardaí were to phone the local publican to alert him or her that they would be visiting at a particular time? That is not realistic and we cannot have that approach.

Senator Ryan referred to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Having worked in the food industry I am aware of an organisation called the European Food and Safety Inspection Service, EFSIS. If one is lucky enough to get a contract to supply Tesco or whatever it is an essential prerequisite to have the EFSIS standard. Its inspectors carry out audits, uninvited, whenever they want at whatever time of the day, and have access to everything. That is in private industry. It might be hard to believe, but it does happen.

We need a similar type of system for nursing homes. As many people have said, the vast majority give excellent care and stick closely to the regulations. Many relations of mine have been cared for extremely well in a host of nursing homes throughout this country. However, it is reasonable to assume that the Leas Cross nursing home is not an isolated incident and that there are others. Therefore, following on from the "Prime Time" investigative programme there needs to be an urgent review of all nursing homes in the country.

I welcome the fact that the HSE has established an independent inquiry team to investigate all areas of concern in line with the Department of Health and Children's policy document, Trust in Care. I also welcome the fact that it has put in the necessary nursing staff and made the changes at Leas Cross.

It is safe to assume, however, that this is not an isolated incident. I therefore appeal to the Minister of State to use all the resources within his good offices to carry out an investigation at all nursing homes in advance of the introduction of an inspectorate. The legislation will be very welcome when it comes and is needed as a matter of urgency. Obviously, there are realities to be addressed and the parliamentary draftsmen have to put things together in a particular manner. The Minister of State is fully committed to bringing that legislation forward as a matter of urgency and I look forward to it very much.

There is no doubt that every self-respecting citizen was appalled by what Monday night's programme revealed. I do not believe any Member of this House could have imagined the type of things that were going on in that particular nursing home and it is unacceptable. This issue should not be made into a political football, however. It is not a political issue. It is one which all self-respecting public representatives and citizens should engage in to proactively conceptualise ways in which the situation may be improved quickly, rather than people trying to score cheap political points, two years from a general election.