Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)

The recent RTÉ exposé on nursing homes in Dublin and Laois was heartbreaking to watch. Vulnerable elderly people - our mothers, fathers, grandparents and neighbours - were left without dignity and proper care. Yet, the Government continues to outsource elder care to private corporations, many of which put the bottom line before people. It was shocking to watch an elderly man ask repeatedly to be taken to the toilet, only to be told to stay in bed and pee in his pad. Elderly people who paid tax and contributed to the State now find themselves victims of abuse.

The provider at the centre of this scandal, now rebranded as Emeis Ireland, is due to open a new facility in Cavan later this year. The company was already in controversy in France. How in the name of God was a red flag not seen? Why did HIQA not undertake due diligence? Five years on from the start of the Covid pandemic, we are still waiting for adult safeguarding legislation to be enacted.

I have received confirmation that the older persons grant fund in County Cavan is now exhausted. The letter said it is temporarily paused but the problem, in fact, is that the fund is exhausted. This has happened because the Government has failed once again to allocate sufficient funding to help keep older people in their homes and in the communities they have built.

What is most galling is that there is action only after scandals break. The approach is all reactionary, with no prevention. It is 20 years since the Leas Cross scandal and we have learned nothing. Ireland is becoming an outlier in elder care. Other countries invest in models that allow people to age with dignity, surrounded by family and with proper support. We instead commodify care and treat people as profit margins.