Tom Clonan (Independent)

I thank the Minister for coming in and presenting us with her observations on the Farrelly report. It is fair to say Grace has become a household name in Ireland and, sadly, for the reasons the Minister has referred to. Grace was failed. Everyone from the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to the various Ministers who have a footprint in this area have all expressed regret this has happened, apologised and indicated they do not want there to ever be a repeat of this case.

I refer to a case which has been highlighted in the media of late by RTÉ and all the broadsheet newspapers and that is the case of Caitlin Hassan. She is a 27-year-old woman who was sexually assaulted and raped in State-funded care. Her mother, Louise Hassan, is being denied access to or sight of a report which was initiated into this sexual assault. Caitlin is, unfortunately, suffering. She is no longer receiving the supports in care she needs from the State. She is at home, for the most part curled up in a foetal position. I am in regular contact with Louise Hassan. We were outside last week at the protest for adult safeguarding following the "Prime Time Investigates" documentary on the abuses of the elderly in Beneavin nursing home care setting and elsewhere. I have raised Caitlin's case in this House repeatedly and is on the Seanad record multiple times. I am really concerned for Louise Hassan. Last week at the protest, she told me she fears she is losing Caitlin. It is a phrase she uses repeatedly; she thinks she has lost her. I put it to the Minister that Caitlin's case is Grace's case and it is happening right now. I implore the Minister to speak to her Cabinet colleagues and see what resources can be mobilised to assist this family because I know she shares my concern in this regard.

Catilin's case and the issues highlighted in the "Prime Time Investigates" documentary speak of a system in Ireland of care supports, which we absolutely need but which are without proper adult safeguarding measures. I approached the Law Reform Commission earlier this week on this and it has done a lengthy piece of research and investigation into adult safeguarding legislation. It has drafted adult safeguarding legislation which I believe would be of huge benefit. It would close the current and existing legislative gap around these protections. These are protections everyone in the House and who is listening needs. I have said this to the Minister before but according to the World Health Organization, WHO, all human beings experience disability. For an average of eight years of our lives, every man, woman and child in the Republic will require care supports. For most of us, this happens at the end of life, as was the case in the example of the elderly being abused in the nursing home care settings we saw on "Prime Time Investigates". I plan to have that legislation drafted and to introduce it in the Seanad in my capacity as an Independent Senator. I hope I will get support from Government on that and to try to progress that legislation as quickly as possible in order that we can all benefit from the type of legal safeguards for adult safeguarding that are enjoyed, and I use that word advisedly, in every other European Union member state but are absent here.

I have every faith in the Minister's integrity and sincerity on these issues but I ask that we please find a way to address the concerns of Louise Hassan and her daughter Caitlin. They are really in extremis. The fact her mum has come forward and gone public on such a serious and sensitive matter of sexual assault speaks volumes to the appalling situation they find themselves in. It is particularly dark that she does not have the supports and resources she needs. If she suffered any other injury, she would get the supports and treatment she needs. She needs treatment for the trauma of this assault. Her mother also needs support. She is a single mum and she is finding it very hard to cope with the current situation. I know the Minister hears me and, as I said, I do not doubt her integrity or sincerity in these matters.

I thank the Minister for coming in and for her observations. They are absolutely right about what happened in the Grace case but we might take that energy and precedent to reach out to the Hassan family.