Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I add my voice of sympathy to the Clerys workers for the unbelievably despicable way that they have lost their positions and to the families of the young people who tragically lost their lives today in California.

I wish to raise the issue of the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, reports that were released last week. In the programme on Áras Attracta, some of the disturbing happenings were visible. Last week, three HIQA reports featured on the news. They were damning. I will refer to the one relating to St. Mary's in Drumcar in my county of Louth, which was found to be significantly non-compliant in nine out of the ten areas in respect of which it was inspected. St. Mary's is a congregated setting. I have raised the problems there numerous times down the years. It is disturbing that management was singled out in the report. St. Mary's was inspected last May, inspected again, given a warning letter in October, inspected in February and inspected again in April. From reading the report, the lack of work that was done is heartbreaking. There is no point in bolting the gate after the horse is gone.

Some of what has happened is due to staff shortages. It is for us to ensure that adequate funding is provided so that the people in such facilities have what they deserve. It is nothing less than a matter of human rights. We have all seen the reports. I agree that moving people out of congregated settings should be our aim. That is supposed to be done by 2019, but at the rate we are going, it will take much longer. Will the Leader arrange for a debate on some of these reports and reiterate the work being done by nurses and care staff? It is not their fault. They are doing the best that they can with what they have. We need to do something.

If I may, I-----