We need the media more than ever

SO MANY scandals in recent Irish history can largely be put down to one thing – lack of regulation.

While the previous Government would have us believe that the Irish banking crisis was collateral damage from a global economic downturn, the reality is that poor regulation landed us in the brown stuff, big time.

The

“sure we’ll be grand

? attitude that forms part of our DNA was a major factor in bringing the IMF suits to our shores to tell us how to run our country.

While the loss of our economic sovereignty certainly took its toll, most of us have managed to pull through the last five years by making considerable financial sacrifices. I hate the expression – but we are where we are.

Far more worrying than the economy, however, is that light-touch regulation across a number of areas has resulted in a very real human cost for victims and their families.

The shocking treatment of vulnerable residents at the care home, as exposed by

‘Prime Time’ last week, was yet another wake-up call for the HSE.

Naturally, a full investigation will have to take place while staff at the centre of the controversy are afforded due process.

But it has raised urgent questions. Was this just a case of a few bad apples? How many other care homes have staff that treat people with disabilities in this way?

The truth is, we really don’t know and can only hope that the HSE will now beef up its inspection programme of these facilities.

Of all the reactions to the

‘Prime Time’ revelations, there was one chilling comment on Facebook that stayed with me. It read:

“As the father of a girl who may never achieve independent living, this is the sort of s*** that makes me afraid to die.

?

Yet again, it has taken investigative journalism to expose another regulatory weak spot.
Let’s not forget that it was

‘Prime Time’ that also shone a light on some questionable practices in certain childcare facilities, again forcing the Government to take notice of how this particular industry is regulated.

Such programmes represent public service broadcasting at its best.
It’s a sad reflection on the Government when its own ministers are so reliant on the media to tell them what’s actually going on outside the gates of Leinster House.