Mattie McGrath Demands Inquiry into Covid-19 Nursing Home Deaths

I will go to ask the Minister for Health if he will initiate an immediate public inquiry into the Government and Neffert's handling of Covid-19, including an immediate investigation into denoting home deaths. I will commit to an independent external audit of Neffert's advice and modelling by an external set of auditors who are not otherwise engaged with the State in any way. If you can explain and justify Ireland's position as an outline of Europe in relation to the level of restrictions and hospitality and antigen testing, he will make a statement on the matter. Thank you very much, Anne Hara. I thank the Deputy for the question. It's fair to say that Covid-19 has had a devastating effect and caused huge difficulties for everyone in Ireland. It's especially true for people in nursing homes, for their families, and indeed for the staff, but particularly for those in the nursing homes and their families who have suffered huge hardship. The Department of Health is exploring ways to ensure their voices are heard. It must be recognized that the pandemic has not yet concluded, and at this time, the priority focus of government remains on the ongoing management of the Covid-19 response to ensure that the gains we've experienced are preserved and that those most vulnerable to the virus continue to be protected. The National Public Health emergency team and the modelling team have served as well and perform essential roles, and I'd like to pay tribute to the chairs of both groups, Dr. Tony Houlihan and Professor Philip Nolan, for their leadership and their expertise. I believe Ireland's response has been robust, and this is evident when you look at some of the outcomes for Ireland in relation to a lot of other countries. We have one of the lowest number of cases per capita within the EU and the UK, and thankfully, when this is over, if things continue as is, we will have one of the lowest levels of excess mortality as well. Our vaccination program is performing extremely well. By the end of the week, the vaccination program is expected to have administered 5 million doses, with over 2 million adults fully vaccinated and over 70% of the adult population having received their first dose, and I'm delighted to be able to share that when you look at the target populations, Ireland has either the highest or one of the highest participation rates right across the board. The deputy raises, I think, the very important point of antigen testing as well. In January, I established the rapid testing group chaired by Professor Mark Ferguson, and more recently, I've established an expert advisory group on rapid testing chaired by Professor Mary Horgan to support the rollout of rapid testing right across sectors in the country. Thank you. Thank you. At the outset, I want to come in and thank the frontline staff and nursing staff and their attendants. The independent investigation I want should include a cost-benefit analysis of the government's imposed lockdowns to date. For instance, the overall costs, and indeed the delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of the lockdowns to mental health and other health-related services, together with the economic and community impact versus the benefits derived from the biggest and the longest ever lockdown in Ireland. Ireland has the longest lockdown in the world, and the second-highest rate of nursing home deaths, which is so sad. A death of one is one too many in any situation, but in the nursing homes. Of these deaths, we know that 50% of deaths got the infection in 575 nursing home buildings, and 15% of the deaths got the infections in 86 hospital buildings. And that's where I'm coming at, Minister. People go into those trusted institutions for care and for protections and the hospital to get better, not to pick up an infection. So we need a thorough investigation, external, independent, to find out where the mistakes were made, and can we be ready in future to apply something like this. And Tara. Thank you very much, Deputy, and I think where the Deputy and I, it sounds like we agree, is that everything that can be done to protect people in the nursing homes, and indeed right across the residential sector, has to be done. One of the things which the Deputy will be aware that was done was an expert nursing home group was brought together. They did a huge amount of work, and they produced a very, very comprehensive report. An implementation group critically was put together because Minister Butler and I wanted to make sure that this was not just a report that sat on a shelf, and an awful lot of work has been done. HICWA have been very, very involved. The HSC has been involved. As the Deputy, I'm sure, is aware, the Defence Forces at times were brought in to help out as well. And Minister Butler and I will be bringing forward shortly really quite groundbreaking legislation in terms of the regulation of the nursing home sector, and indeed home care more generally. And I would share the Deputy's view that everything that can be done must be done for people in the nursing home sector, and I would add to that and say home care as well. Mr. Minister, IANKA. Minister, look, it means that around 40% of the number of 5,000, approximately, deaths in Ireland occurred in nursing homes. That's 40% of them. Internationally, the Republic of Ireland has the second worst rate of nursing home deaths in the world after Canada. As society returns to normal, we hope, this issue must be addressed. And the very least for the many families who have lost loved ones, and in the most traumatic of circumstances over the past 15 months, must get answers. I know there's a number of cases and court cases coming up and challenging. And I've spoken and met nursing home staff. I haven't been in there. I've been in one or two by invitation. And they were forced, literally. They were left without, you know, a PP. They were left without oxygen, in some cases, taken away by the HSCs, their allegations. And that is shocking. So, we must examine this fully. And I don't want an internal investigation. We have to announce an external, inward-looking investigation that has no commitments to any sectors in Ireland, only open, honest, transparent, and find out. Can we learn from the huge mistakes, the lack of readiness and preparedness for any kind of a pandemic, and learn from the mistakes? Thank you, Debbie. And, Harrah. Final advice. Thank you, Margot. Thank you, Harrah. Look, we absolutely have to learn from what happened. Some things were done well, and undoubtedly, there will have been mistakes made. I'd like to assure the Deputy, though, that that constant review has been ongoing for a very long time. So, Minister Butler and I have had numerous meetings with the Department, with the HSC, with HICWA, to be able to go through nursing home by nursing home around the country, identifying those nursing homes who are most at risk. HICWA, in the first instance, Deputy, how it works is HICWA does a very thorough examination right across the sector. They then identify specific challenges that individual nursing homes may have, and they engage with the HSC and the Department to make sure that the supports are put in place. So, while I hear clearly what the Deputy is asking, I would just like to assure him, and indeed people who are in the nursing home sector and their families, that this would not be something new. We have been constantly reviewing and revising and learning and putting more and more safeguards in place right the way through this pandemic. Gour Magath. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You