Nursing homes
Mr. Gormley: This morning the Tánaiste said the Progressive Democrats believes in accountability, though he refused to answer two of my questions regarding payments received by the Taoiseach from sources in Manchester. Had his privacy legislation been in place, the recent stories relating to payments to the Taoiseach would not have emerged. The purpose of that legislation is to protect the most powerful and wealthy people in society. I believe this is the function of the neo-conservative Progressive Democrats. There is very little accountability.
An Ceann Comhairle: Can the Deputy restrict himself to discussing the motion before the House?
Mr. Gormley: This is a preamble to my pointing out that the situation in Leas Cross, and nursing homes in general, stems from a lack of accountability. A report conducted by an eminent professor, who lives in my constituency, has been suppressed. Power was vested in him to make an assessment and he did his job thoroughly. This was not a form of tribunal. Of course, the findings of his report were not to the liking of certain people in powerful positions. The HSE is protecting individuals when it ought to protect the most vulnerable people in society, the elderly. The HSE’s priorities are wrong. The point made by the previous speaker is valid. We must consider who owns this report and what were the terms of reference. Professor O’Neill has done his job well and, as far as he is concerned, that is the end of the matter. He will not return to make amendments. We should listen to what he says. There are major questions concerning accountability in our health system. I was recently made aware of a serious case of malpractice and negligence which raises the issue of recourse open to relatives. It seems to be a closed shop. Had it not been for RTE’s investigative journalism we would not have seen the appalling conditions in Leas Cross. Leas Cross was not an isolated incident. I put it to the Minister for Health and Children recently that many nursing homes received adverse reports. The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Mr. Seán Power, said he would produce the relevant report and give me the names of those nursing homes. I still have not received it for the same reason Professor O’Neill’s report is being suppressed. We may refer to natural justice and giving people an opportunity but these people must be held to account. It is a feature of society that those who behave badly are not held responsible. The most vulnerable people in society have been treated like a commodity to assist in generating as much money as possible. I have heard stories of people refused a glass of milk when thirsty and given a single slice of bread spread thinly with margarine. These are all cost saving measures that have been used. People have been heavily drugged and put to bed early so they would not cause trouble at night. They may be left to lie in their own urine. These are appalling stories, yet they continue. The suppression of this report is further evidence that the Government, so wedded to the market and profit, will allow this to continue. I am sharing time with my colleagues, the Independent Members. I thank Professor O’Neill for his work and I hope his report is published as soon as possible.