Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. When one leaves a mother, father or someone in a nursing home, the least one expects is that they will be cared for in a professional and caring fashion. What happened in Leas Cross was despicable. People were responsible for the grievous wrongs and practices visited on the old, infirm and vulnerable people in the nursing home. People were charged with supervising the staff working in the home. People in the health authority knew and should have acted to ensure safety and that care and proper attention was given to the patients.

The Government has had a deplorable Pontius Pilate attitude towards accountability. Initially, the atrocities were brought to the attention of the Government by Deputy O'Dowd, the leader of Fine Gael, Deputy Kenny, and a wonderful "Prime Time" programme that shocked the nation and eventually stirred the bureaucratic system into action.

I will return to what Senator O'Dowd, as he then was, said in 2001. For the Government to say it knew nothing of what was taking place does not wash. In a motion before this House in July 2001 Senator O'Dowd called for an independent inspectorate for nursing homes, both private and public, an approved quality training programme for care assistants and the creation of an office of the ombudsman for the elderly. The reply from the Minister of State at the time was to the effect that there was concern about nursing home legislation and monitoring standards in private nursing homes but that he and his colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, would rectify the situation.

That is what the Government promised in 2001. It was fully aware of what was happening because it was brought to its attention. It should not have taken a "Prime Time" investigation to force the Government into action in calling for a report into Leas Cross and investigating other nursing homes. There was a systems failure, which seems to be the catchphrase for all the ills for which the Government is not prepared to accept responsibility. However, people were responsible for what happened in that nursing home. The health board, the Department of Health and Children and the Government knew. Will they be held accountable or will it be brushed under the carpet as so many other things have been?

The families of the patients who were in Leas Cross are correct to band together and demand action. It is the least they deserve after witnessing what happened to their loved ones. This was just one nursing home but many more since have been found to be lacking in basic hygiene, basic staffing levels and other things. I would not wish to tar every nursing home, private or public, with the same brush because the majority are good and care properly for people. However, others need attention and inspection, which were called for in 2001. My colleague, Senator Browne, referred earlier to the large number of inspectors in the agricultural sector to examine farms compared to the numbers inspecting nursing homes. There is one inspector for every 11 farmers but one for every 370 patients in nursing homes.

We must put in a properly-staffed inspectorate. Taking on board what Senator O'Toole said, we must put in place the right people from the various disciplines, such as nursing, health and safety and others, who will go into homes unannounced on a regular basis and report on the work being done.

I commend Senator White on her document. I only glanced at it today but believe she is making a genuine attempt to highlight the problem. Most elderly people want to stay and receive care in their homes for as long as is humanly possible. That should be our aim, as has been stated in all Government policies since 1999 and long before in various health reports. We are not putting sufficient effort into home care packages to assist people who live at home and want to stay there. We are not giving sufficient support to the carers in our society, who are unsung heroes. These people deserve far greater support than they have received.

We should also consider sheltered housing for the elderly. Many are ambulant and can get around but are fearful for their safety in their own homes, as are their families. There should be more sheltered housing with facilities providing all the supports the elderly need. We should support facilities such as that in Mulranny and other areas.

This report is damning of our society and of the inaction of all the people involved in this debacle. Let us hope the Government acts this time because in 2001 it was fully informed of the situation. A full and frank debate took place in this House and commitments were given which were not honoured. If commitments at that time had been honoured we would probably not have had a Leas Cross or the other problems with nursing homes that have been mentioned.