Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of adult safeguarding. Yesterday in the media we heard about the horrific case of a nursing home resident who was raped by a healthcare worker who was tasked with caring for her. The woman, who is now deceased, was called Emily in the report. Her bravery and the support of her family led to the perpetrator being exposed and punished. However, we need to face up to the fact that other residents had complained about inappropriate behaviour from the perpetrator and nothing was done. Unfortunately, they were not believed, which is devastating.

This was a massive failure, which underscores the urgent need for comprehensive adult safeguarding legislation with a mandatory reporting requirement. My Civil Engagement Group colleague, former Senator Colette Kelleher, introduced adult safeguarding legislation way back in 2017. It was well-written and timely legislation that received cross-party support and backing from civil society. However, the Bill's progress was stalled to allow the Law Reform Commission to conduct research. Years have passed since then and there have been multiple media reports outlining horrific revelations about abusive situations in health and social care settings and in private residences where adult safeguarding legislation could have prevented abuse, degradation and cruelty. This delay has been a massive missed opportunity.

I am aware that the Government's summer legislation schedule contains the adult safeguarding Bill, which is welcome news, but the proposed legislation is much more limited in its scope and does not create the kind of comprehensive adult safeguarding system that we need. We need legislation that covers the broad spectrum of sites where adult safeguarding is relevant, a statutory safeguarding agency that has the support of several relevant Departments and statutory agencies, and an expansion of advocacy services to ensure vulnerable people's wishes and concerns are heard.

I want to acknowledge the many civil society organisations such as Sage advocacy, ALONE, Safeguarding Ireland, the Irish Association of Social Workers, and many others that have been fighting on this issue for years. Their research and advocacy have kept this issue on the agenda and I commend highly all their efforts on behalf of the population that are often neglected in our political discourse. People have been waiting so long for this legislation and the absence of comprehensive adult safeguarding legislation is creating tangible risk and harm. The Government must take swift and decisive action to rectify this. I hope we can move on this. It is an important Bill, it could save many lives and it could prevent a lot more abuse in the system.