Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD has criticised the government’s decision to cancel a Dáil debate on nursing homes which was due to take place tomorrow.
Speaking today, Deputy Tóibín said: “A Dáil debate which was set to take place tomorrow afternoon in light of the RTE Investigates exposé in relation to practices in some nursing homes has been abruptly called-off this morning by the Government. During last week’s Order of Business Aontú tabled an amendment to ensure that we could have a debate on the matter. The government caved and scheduled a half a debate last week, where only Government, Sinn Féin, Labour Party and Social Democrat TDs were permitted to speak. The second half of the debate was to take place this week, where Aontú, Independents and the four other remaining opposition parties was to take place tomorrow”.
Deputy Tóibín continued: “I fought hard to secure a debate on the issue and I find it unacceptable that it has been cancelled. The Dáil should sit late into the night if necessary to allow for one. I have important concerns I wish to raise in relation to necessary adult safeguarding legislation, in relation to mandatory reporting of abuse of older or vulnerable people and indeed in relation to the need for HIQA to be given teeth to not only investigate but to clamp down on any institutions which abuse or neglect people under their care”.
“This government is an accountability-free zone. If they don’t wish to face hard questions they simply cancel the discussion. In recent days I also reached out to the Covid Enquiry to offer testimony to them and documents which Aontú have in our possession in relation to the handling of Covid in nursing homes. The enquiry wrote back this week, declining to view my documents and declining to meet with me. I do not understand their rationale for this. Older people in nursing homes are being treated as an afterthought by the government, and it is completely unacceptable. The debate must be placed on the Dáil schedule again, it should never have been removed. It is not fair that some opposition parties are permitted to speak on the issue but others not. This must be rectified”, concluded Tóibín.
