Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise two matters. This morning, the Joint Committee on Disability Matters heard from the mother of a man with an acquired brain injury and from a woman who was 33 years of age when she had a stroke. The latter stated:

Not one medical expert came to our house following my discharge. Members need to realise that, at this time, there were a large number of everyday tasks that I could not do for myself. There were no follow-up services for me once I was discharged. There was no one to check on me. The first time I needed to wash myself, I stood in front of the shower for a full five minutes trying to figure out how to turn it on. I only had to press one button but I had absolutely no idea what to do.

The Irish Heart Foundation also appeared before the committee. It spoke about the national stroke strategy, which was commissioned by the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, in 2017 but remains unpublished. Might the House write to ask when the strategy will be published and for a comment? I will follow up with a Commencement matter, which I hope the Cathaoirleach will oblige on top of the other three Commencement matters on my list. I ask that the Seanad write to find out where the national stroke strategy is. The Irish Heart Foundation does extraordinary work. Just 3% of its funding comes from the State, with 90% coming from donations. It provides support groups, nurses and advice. We need a stroke strategy to be implemented.

Shamefully, the Irish Sunpublished an article yesterday that induced people to gamble on a match. I believe there is a big match tonight. Is there? I do not know - I am not really a soccer girl. According to the article, if people bet a certain amount, they would be guaranteed to get money back even if they lost. Induced gambling like that is the sort of thing that brings people back into addiction, costs people their homes, families and livelihoods, and makes children go hungry. The Bill has been published, so we need to bring its gambling regulations in as a matter of urgency in order to stop the scourge of actions like this, which are appalling and undermine families and people.