Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will share my time with my colleague. I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House at short notice. It is critical that all the people at home tonight who are wondering if their loved ones are safe in their particular facilities know that the fact the Minister of State is here tonight is a start in restoring confidence in the service. We must do everything possible to allay any fears people may have about their loved ones who are in the care of others because what we saw last night was shocking beyond belief. What is really worrying is that nothing appears to have been learned from Leas Cross and all the other facilities in which there were problems over the years. We must carry out the investigation quickly, and appropriate action must be taken against anybody found to have misbehaved or ill-treated any person.

I said on the Order of Business this morning that there were two problems, first, bad management of the facility and, second, the recruitment process. What sort of interview process recruited those people who were incapable of delivering the type of care and service required by those vulnerable people? We need to examine our selection processes if they fail us as badly as they have in Áras Attracta. As Senator Colm Burke has been highlighting here, it is frightening that people are being appointed to positions within the Health Service Executive without having the necessary skills or going through the selection process we expect. That issue must be dealt with.

The run-up to Christmas is a worrying time for everybody but the Minister of State, the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and the Department must ensure that an audit is done as quickly as possible of all the facilities in the State on an ongoing basis to ensure that the level of care we should be providing is being provided.

I join with all colleagues in condemning what we saw on the programme last night and I hope this is the last time we will have to discuss this issue in the House of Parliament.