Phil Prendergast (Labour)

The scenes depicted on "Prime Time Investigates" last night were very distressing and will have upset many families. We no longer have an option not to regulate the care area, where we saw untrained and overworked carers mistreating elderly people and unscrupulous employers facilitate this by neglecting their obligations. We can no longer opt for a situation where the HSE pays millions of euro to private companies, but does not monitor how care is provided. It was appalling to witness the indignity suffered by patients and to see how they were treated. The policy of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, has been to make the private sector responsible for the welfare of thousands of elderly people. We need her to come to the House to explain how the situation we witnessed last night has arisen. Up to midday today, the HSE helpline had received 52 calls, all of which arose as a result of last night's programme. It is an appalling abuse to leave the care service unregulated and in the hands of untrained people. The issue must be addressed and the Minister must come to the House to account for herself.