Dáil to hear call for national inquiry into nursing home deaths

Solidarity TD Mick Barry says he will call in the Dáil this morning for a national inquiry into the high level of deaths and the quality of care in Ireland’s nursing homes during the Covid crisis.

Deputy Barry says this call will come in the wake of last night’s RTE Prime Time investigation which ‘revealed neglect and elder abuse in a sector which seems to have been subjected only to a form of light touch HSE regulation.’

He also said that Minister for Older People Mary Butler’s promise to investigate the allegations raised in the programme ‘went further than commitments given to date’ but ‘still falls far short of the national inquiry needed.’

“There has always been a powerful case for a national inquiry into nursing home deaths and the quality of nursing home care during Covid,” he said.

“But the elder abuse and neglect revealed on television last night strengthens the case now to the point that the call for an inquiry is unanswerable.

“The Government’s promise to look into the allegations falls short of what is clearly needed now – a national inquiry into both the deaths and the quality of care provided to these citizens.”