Vol. 702 No. 1
6 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made in carrying out an inquiry into the activities of a doctor (details supplied) in the north east against whom allegations of abuse have been made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6983/10]
I met representatives of the support group, Dignity 4 Patients, on 29 October 2009 to inform them of my decision, in consultation with the Cabinet and the Attorney General, to establish an independent review chaired by the retired High Court judge, Mr. Justice T.C. Smyth, to examine whether a further investigation into the case of Mr. Shine would be of public benefit. Mr. Justice Smyth recently began his work on the review. I am satisfied the terms of reference of the review, which have been published, allow it to give support groups, including Dignity 4 Patients, an opportunity to engage with the process, present their views, be heard in full and have those views taken into account in the outcome of the review.
An advertisement appeared yesterday in three national and five local newspapers and in one additional local newspaper today, seeking submissions to the independent review. The review is due to be completed by the middle of the year.
In light of the fact that the advertisements have appeared in the papers, I understand there is a great deal of pressure on the organisation, Dignity 4 Patients because more people are coming forward. Can the Minister give some type of funding or support to that organisation, even on a temporary basis, because it relies entirely on voluntary help, has no money and is under enormous pressure?
I gather the deadline for submissions to Mr. Justice Smyth is 3 March. Could that deadline be extended for the overall umbrella organisation because it wants to make the strongest submission possible? The people concerned are very vulnerable. In some cases they have been through the 1995 review, the whole court process and now there is another review which might possibly be followed by an inquiry. For them it is very important that this is a positive process and that they will not encounter further abuse. They need to know that it is a serious initiative and that if an inquiry is required it will be put in train. I should like if the Minister can give some reassurances in that regard.
With regard to the last point made by the Deputy, it is a serious process, and I believe that is accepted. I do not believe somebody of the stature of Mr. Justice Smyth would engage in a process that was not serious. I will give consideration to the deadline of 3 March. I do not know whether we set it or Mr. Justice Smyth did, but I shall have that examined. Dignity 4 Patients has asked for funding and I am well disposed to this. I have asked it to make an application under the health lotto. I do not know whether the application has been received as yet, but I know it is in the process of getting charity status from the Revenue, which is required in order to avail of the funding. I believe that process is underway. However, I am well disposed to giving the organisation some funding, as I am aware of the enormous financial pressure it is under. I believe it represents about 190 former patients of Mr. Shine and perhaps 36 others. The workload is quite considerable, as I am aware.
I lend my voice of support for some funding for Dignity 4 Patients. It is providing services, as the Minister has said, for quite a number of people, many of whom are men who are at risk of suicide as a consequence of the abuse they have suffered.
As with Deputy O'Sullivan I should like to see a serious review and I accept the Minister's assurance that it will be. Should an inquiry be necessary after this, I should like if the evidence at this review might be considered in the context of such a further inquiry, so that victims will not have to subject themselves to further interview, unless they want to. Apart from the funding needed by Dignity 4 Patients, the victims need services. They need to be looked after, and while they are very isolated, they are coming together although still finding it very difficult to talk about this. They need psychological support, counselling services etc. and this must be one of the key considerations.
I do not disagree with that. When the hospital was acquired by the State in the mid-1990s for €5.5 million, I believe, a sum of €2 million was set aside for possible claims, including in this area. That is being administered on behalf of the Medical Missionaries of May by Arthur Cox, solicitors. To date no claim has been made on that €2 million, so I am conscious that this resource is there as well. I agree that psychological and other supports are necessary for the victims. In fairness, many of them have been receiving counselling over many years. I have met some of them and am aware of the vulnerability of many of the individuals concerned. Certainly, all such supports will be forthcoming.
Lives have been seriously scarred as a result of the behaviour of Mr. Shine. Will the review the Minister referred to have the power to properly address the issues involved, not only for the HSE but the former health boards and those formally involved in the hospital administration? Will Mr. Justice Smyth have an opportunity for direct engagement with the Garda Síochána in this regard, and will the Director of Public Prosecutions be quizzed directly by Mr. Justice Smyth? What point are we at as regards the review, and when does the Minister expect that it will finalise its business?
Will the review information be published and made available publicly here for Members of the Oireachtas? If it is too soon to make a judgment call as to whether it will offer closure, I would speculate, having spoken to victims of Mr. Shine, that it will not — and that only a full open inquiry will give them the closure and finality they desire.
It is expected the review will be completed in the summer and to a large extent it will be a precursor to what the Deputy terms a public inquiry. There will be enormous reluctance to engage in a public inquiry or indeed even an inquiry under the Commissions of Investigation Act, unless this is warranted. That is precisely what the Mr. Justice Smyth has been asked to do — and in that regard to speak to whoever is relevant. Clearly, the justice cannot cut across any possible criminal investigation, because this matter is also being investigated by the Garda Síochána, given that some of the circumstances may have changed since the previous criminal prosecutions. I am aware that the Garda Síochána is looking at the relevant issues, It is a matter for the Garda, rather than for me and neither could we establish a review that would look at the role of the DPP, the Garda Síochána or any trial that took place. I have explained that to Dignity 4 Patients, which I believe it understands.
The intention is to have the review available by the middle of the year and in the first instance I should like Dignity 4 Patients to have access to it. Subsequent to that, of course it will be made public.
7 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children if parents that paid hundreds of euro to vaccinate their daughters against cervical cancer will be refunded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6907/10]
I have always accepted the consensus view of the relevant expert bodies that the introduction of a universal high uptake vaccination programme in young girls, in conjunction with population based cervical screening, could significantly reduce overall cervical cancer incidence. The issue was not, therefore, whether the case for a cervical cancer vaccination programme was accepted by myself and the Government — because it always was — but the priority to be accorded to such a programme within the resources available for public health services and for the cancer programme in particular.
Recently I requested the HSE to initiate a tendering process for the procurement of an HPV vaccine with a view to commencing a HPV vaccination programme for all girls in first year in secondary school and until this process was completed I was not in a position to say if or when I would introduce this programme. This tendering process for the vaccine is now complete. We can now purchase the vaccine at a price much lower than we expected to pay in 2008 and at a price much closer to what is being paid in other countries. In these circumstances, the programme can now be delivered from the extra resources committed in this year's budget to the overall cancer programme.
The HSE is committed to starting this campaign during the current school year. This will involve the free vaccination of up to 30,000 girls mainly in school settings. Details of the full programme will be announced by the HSE in the near future and will involve the vaccine being offered each year to all girls in first year in secondary school. Unfortunately it will not be possible to refund the costs of vaccinations administered privately.
I have a number of points for the Minister and then a question.
I wholeheartedly welcome the Minister's decision to go ahead with the vaccination programme. She knows my views and everyone else is aware of them, too, in terms of the importance of this. It was never a case of either or, but rather of both together. I am glad she now confirms that she always accepted that because we had a debate here and the eminent Deputy O'Hanlon cast aspersions on articles in the New England Journal of Medicine as regards safety issues around that vaccine. In fact there are not.
Why can the Minister not find it in her heart to recompense those who were responsible, proactive and decided to vaccinate their children against this risk? A gesture towards reimbursing the cost of the vaccine is the minimum that could be done, I suggest The cost would be incurred anyway and it would be a gesture to the parents of those children who went through financial hardship and paid up to €600.
While I am on my feet the Minister might consider settling with Sanofi Pasteur for the remaining debt that I and my group owe them for the children we vaccinated.
Personal pleading is not allowed.
I am sure it would be highly inappropriate for Deputy Reilly to use question time to advance any personal interests.
It was not a personal interest, it was a public interest.
It was never intended to do a catch-up and one must begin a new programme somewhere. That has been the case in most countries, especially those that have had a country-wide programme. I accept that is not the case everywhere but it has been the case in most places. One must begin somewhere. At the time we accepted the HIQA report and made a decision to proceed with the vaccine we had hoped to start the programme one year earlier and to do a catch up. However, since we gave a commitment to a particular group of girls they will now be vaccinated. They are in first year now and would have been in sixth class at the time. Originally, we intended to do this in primary school because we have a track record of immunisation programmes in primary schools. Now it will be done in secondary school but it will catch the same group of girls that would have received it in sixth class last year.
Given the resource constraints, which are considerable as I remarked earlier, I am not in a position to repay the high cost of €600 to the individuals that availed of it. I acknowledge the cost was high relative to the price for which we can now procure the vaccine.
I also welcome the fact the programme is being introduced. However, I refer to the people who paid for it themselves. In fairness to them, they were originally informed the programme would be put in place and they were then informed it would be delayed. By that time there was a good deal of media attention on the issue and a belief among the parents concerned that it was very important for their daughters to get this vaccine. They were not to know that the Minister would introduce the programme in the first year of secondary school instead of sixth class in primary school. There is a case for people to be recompensed. I am unsure how the Minister might do so but there is a case to be made. I remember distinctly a Traveller lady visited my clinic and informed me she would try to save up the money to have her daughter vaccinated because she had heard it was important to do so.
When we debated the matter here at the time it was announced the programme would not go ahead, we stated in the Chamber it could be done a good deal cheaper than the original HIQA costing presented to the Minister. I met representatives of at least one of the companies that makes the vaccine. They informed me they could do it a good deal cheaper. Did the Minister approach the companies before she originally announced the decision to cancel the programme?
My question is not unrelated. First, to give the Minister a head-spin altogether, there is now a trio of health spokespersons from the Opposition saying "Well done." I agree fully with the decision to go ahead with this vaccine and I am pleased to say the Minister has done the right thing in this case.
I refer to the issue of cost The Minister's original estimate or the estimate provided to her was, if I recall correctly, some €16 million for the HPV, human papilloma virus, vaccine. Now, a figure of €3 million has been indicated for this roll-out. Will the Minister explain this? An initial read would suggest the explanation of such a difference is that there must have been an inordinate profit involved for the pharmaceutical companies.
I refer to public information. What proactive information programme does the Minister intend to roll out to inform teachers, principals, parents and pupils such that there is an understanding of the importance of the vaccine and its uptake?
I thank Deputies for their generous comments. We will be proactive in the first instance with parents because we are vaccinating minors and parents must give their permission. This programme is currently being worked on by the HSE and will be announced shortly. We wish to start the vaccination programme before the summer because individuals must receive three doses during this calendar year and we must have a record of such individuals and so on.
Regarding cost, soundings were take from the companies even after the decision to postpone the programme from 2008 and 2009 to 2010. I met representatives from both companies. The figures being advanced at the time were substantially different from what subsequently transpired. To be fair to the two companies, they responded to my request and to the current financial circumstances in which the country finds itself. We are all aware from colleagues in other countries that large markets get pharmaceutical products, including vaccines, at substantially reduced prices, unlike small markets such as Ireland. Since we were aware of information from our nearest neighbours in respect of the cost, we were able to request that the companies respond in a similar fashion in Ireland to the way in which they responded in the UK and they did so. The cost reduction from €16 million to €3 million is not only savings in vaccine. Clearly, the bulk of the savings are from the vaccine but there are also savings on the administration of the vaccine by the HSE, the cost of which has been considerably reduced as well.
It is unfortunate and I am loath to say it because it sounds churlish, but we are not able to repay individuals who may have paid €600. We are simply not in a position to do so.
Will the Minister reimburse the people the cost of the vaccine that she would otherwise pay, which is only €100 per head? It would be a gesture.
The Minister can reflect upon that.
8 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the categories of workers in the health services who are vetted by the Garda vetting services; her plans to expand this to other categories; if she has satisfied herself at the length of time such vetting takes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6995/10]
Garda vetting is a pre-employment check carried out if a prospective employee, volunteer or student on placement will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults. Garda vetting provides for the disclosure by the Garda central vetting unit to the prospective employer of details of prosecutions and convictions of the candidate. It is a matter for the employer to assess the implications of the information before a decision is taken on the candidate's suitability to take up duty.
From 1995, the former health boards conducted Garda vetting of all prospective employees who would have access to children and vulnerable adults. In 2007, the Health Service Executive extended this requirement to all prospective new employees and existing employees considered for promotion. The processing of requests by the HSE now takes approximately ten to 12 weeks. Processing time fluctuates depending on seasonal demands and volumes received. I understand that in the event of the critical filling of a position, the HSE uses a fast-track facility and this arrangement is working satisfactorily. The fast-track takes between one and two weeks.
The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is currently preparing draft heads of a Bill for consideration by the Government. The Bill will include proposals to provide a statutory basis for the vetting of persons to identify those who are unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable adults. In particular, this will deal with the issue of soft information, an issue I realise is of considerable concern, rather than simply prosecutions and convictions.
When can we expect that legislation? I realise we have raised the matter several times on the Order of Business but when I came into this Chamber first some ten years ago, the Bill was on the list It was the responsibility of a different Department at that time. This has been a long time coming.
The Minister stated anyone within the health services who will be working with children or vulnerable people will be vetted. Will the Minister clarify this statement? Sometimes, there is an issue of delay. I am unsure whether this can be done any quicker and I note there is a fast-track procedure. However, recently I encountered a case involving a student nurse who applied for work experience. Sometimes, in such cases there is not a long lead-in time. I realise my colleague, Deputy Mary Upton, raised this matter on the Order of Business this morning in respect of sports facilities. I am unsure whether the Minister has any answers in this regard. There is a concern that it is not taking place as quickly as it should. However, I welcome the fact it is pretty comprehensive within the health services now.
I cannot provide a date for the legislation because it is subject to the all-party committee. The heads have not yet come before the Government but I understand it is imminent. I will revert to the Deputy on this matter because I am uncertain. In the first instance, the vetting relates to all new employees including students on placement, volunteers working in the area and people who are promoted. However, the intention is to apply it retrospectively to everyone and this is taking place on a phased basis.
The resources for Garda vetting are a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and I do not have any information in respect of it.
This is a very serious issue which I have raised before, not only in respect of new employees. I am aware of a situation that occurred last year in which an ambulance company took over another private ambulance company and 12 of the 20 drivers did not have Garda clearance but they had been working for some considerable time. Vetting is very important, particularly in the mental health service. The Minister of State responsible for mental health, Deputy John Moloney, is present and I would like him to assure me everybody working in the mental health service has been vetted by the Garda because the patients are very vulnerable.
Given that we have heard the Central Mental Hospital is to come to Portrane, will the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, meet the locals to allay any fears they have and keep them on side? It is a positive development and if the locals are kept in the loop, there will not be a problem.
I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, can answer that when replying to the next question.
Any Minister can reply.
I agree with Deputy Reilly that appropriate vetting is important, irrespective of whether one's employer is in the public or private sector. One issue that arises in the health area is the great number of staff who have come from overseas to work in Ireland. The Garda must work in conjunction with Interpol to vet them and this can often take some time. I am satisfied there has been vetting of all new staff since 1995, which is quite some time ago. Those who were employed prior to 1995 are being dealt with on a retrospective basis as quickly as the HSE can do so.
While I accept that rushed legislation can often be flawed, I, as a member of Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, must nevertheless avail of the opportunity to urge the Minister to make the necessary intervention to expedite the introduction of the legislation, working from the first report of the committee on the subject of soft information. I say this against the backdrop of all the terrible circumstances that have presented recently and the great need to ensure every protection for children. It will be an indictment of us all in political life if we do not see results from the long period that representatives of all parties, including the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, have spent on the committee's work. I urge intervention with the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Barry Andrews.
I will be happy to do that although I know the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, is really committed in this area. He is very anxious to have the matter dealt with as quickly as possible. We all know those who are likely to abuse children have a habit of infiltrating places where children congregate, including swimming clubs and sports clubs. There were some very high-profile examples in recent years.
With regard to the legislation on soft information, we are at present restricted under law in terms of prosecutions and convictions. It is often extremely difficult to secure prosecutions and convictions in this area. Having legislation on soft information will be invaluable to protecting children and vulnerable adults.
It is unfair to the many good people who work with children in a credible way in various organisations to spread the idea that children are only at risk in those organisations. The tragic reality is that children are most at risk in the home.
In case there is any misunderstanding, I must state that is of course the case. The vast majority, 99%, of those involved in sports organisations, including swimming organisations, are involved for the right reason. The vast majority of incidents of abuse occur in the home. We need stronger legislation to allow for the exchange of soft information without fear of prosecution.
Many people working in child care come from abroad. Is there a difficulty in obtaining the necessary information on them?
No, but the process takes longer. The Garda, through Interpol, contacts its counterparts in other countries on the issue.
I thank Deputy Reilly for his comment on the Central Mental Hospital. The issue has been brought to my attention by him and Deputies Kennedy and O'Brien. No formal decision has been taken on the location in Portrane. My strategy was based on the hope that we would first determine the means of funding the project. I had hoped to have that done——
We cannot have a debate on a question that was not asked.
My intention is to have a public meeting in Portrane to explain why we are thinking of locating there rather than having people believe our decision was made in advance of their having an input. There has not yet been a formal decision. The Government must decide, over the next three months, how to fund the project. I intend to meet the residents in public when we have some objections.
9 Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on a recent OECD report which shows that Ireland ranks among the top consumers of alcohol; if she will fast-track the publication of the new substance misuse strategy that is to tackle alcohol misuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47015/09]
The average rate of alcohol consumption in Ireland has consistently been among the highest in the European Union. My Department will continue to seek to reduce the overall level of alcohol consumption in the population to reduce the burden of alcohol-related harm on the health services and society in general. To tackle the problems associated with alcohol use and misuse, we need to take responsibility both collectively and individually. There is social acceptance of alcohol in society and we need to question the signal this is sending, particularly to young people.
On 31 March 2009, the Government agreed to include alcohol in a national substance misuse strategy that would be co-ordinated jointly by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and my Department. A steering group has been established to develop the alcohol element of the strategy. It will base its recommendations on effective evidence-based measures to deal with the significant public health issue of alcohol in areas such as supply, pricing, prevention, treatment, awareness and education. The steering group is meeting on a monthly basis and it is expected that its report will be submitted to the Government by the end of this year.
I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am grateful to hear the report will be submitted by the end of the year. The Minister of State said that, according to the OECD report, we are 40% worse off in Ireland with regard to alcohol than we were in the 1980s. The number of young people under 15 who are drinking, especially binge drinking, has increased.
As a parent, I am very conscious of alcohol-related problems at weekends when my children go to parties or the picture house. I am always afraid I will get the dreaded telephone call. I did get one last year because my young daughter ended up with a bottle in her face. I spent 11 hours in the accident and emergency unit with her and she had to get five stitches on the bridge of her nose.
There is a lot in the Minister of State's reply and I appreciate the fact that the steering group has been set up. It is urgent that it produce its report. There are still many alcohol-related practices that need to be curtailed. I refer in particular to the activities of off-licences and dial-a-can services and to the admission of intoxicated young people to nightclubs where they are served even more alcohol. I ask the Minister to address these issues with a sense of urgency, particularly given that so many young people have changed their lifestyles in the family home and their attitudes to alcohol.
Last week, I attended a function in a hotel and paid €12 for four bottles of Coca-Cola. This price is outrageous. My young daughter went to a disco last year in town and was charged €3.50 for a bottle of water. Something must be done to curtail this abuse of the system.
I thank the Deputy. I appreciate the point she made. I, too, am a mother and have four children. I appreciate the concern we all have about giving the wrong message to young people.
I agree with the Deputy's point on young people drinking in the family home. This is why the steering group was set up. It will make proposals for the overall national substance misuse strategy to be incorporated into the national drugs strategy. It will be reporting to the Minister for Health and Children by the end of October 2010. The proposals will be made to the Government by the end of 2010.
Is the Minister aware of the European Charter on Alcohol and the Declaration on Young People and Alcohol? Have the Government and the Department of Health and Children given due consideration to the recommendations contained therein? Acting upon them would make a very helpful contribution to combating the abuse of alcohol, which is what we are trying to achieve. The charter and declaration list quite a number of very sound and sensible steps to be taken.
The steering group has been asked to review existing policies and reports, including those produced at EU and international levels, such that it will identify effective policies and actions to prevent the harm caused to individuals and society by alcohol abuse.
The Minister of State said there is social acceptance of alcohol in Ireland. There is social acceptance of alcohol in France also but there is no social acceptance of its abuse; that is the difference. In what way does the Minister interact with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform? As we know, it is illegal to sell alcohol to minors, yet, as Deputy Catherine Byrne said, the use of alcohol among them is widespread. If we could prevent them buying or accessing alcohol, we would be able to address the problem in some way. Has the Minister of State had much interaction with her colleagues at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in respect of this matter?
Last night's "Operation Transformation" programme put across a message in respect of a matter in which I am particularly interested, namely, that the calorific content of alcohol should be listed on the side of all bottles which contain alcohol. People do not realise the number of calories a bottle of alcohol contains. There are health implications in this regard. It would be of assistance to those, particularly younger people, who are conscious of their physical well-being, etc.
That is why they are smoking.
The number of units of alcohol contained in a bottle of alcohol should also be listed. The information provided should list the number of grammes and also indicate what constitutes a unit. Many people are of the view that there are only six units of alcohol in a bottle of wine. However, the average bottle of wine contains nine units.
When the report is published, will there be an opportunity to consider how alcohol is advertised? This is particularly relevant in that young children and teenagers might be present when advertisements for alcohol are shown on television. Will the report refer to the cost of soft drinks?
The health promotion unit is considering the issues of labelling and advertising in the context of alcohol. As already stated, the steering group will be examining the policies and actions in the context of five pillars, namely, supply, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. I am in contact with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in respect of that matter.
10 Deputy Bernard Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children when she will introduce legislation to regulate and inspect disability services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6863/10]
49 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on reports that more than 500 complaints were made in the past two and a half years relating to the treatment of persons with disabilities in residential care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6967/10]
56 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children when all residential care centres for persons with disabilities will be subject to independent standards and inspection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6966/10]
I proposed to take Questions Nos. 10, 49 and 56 together.
As Deputies will be aware, the National Quality Standards: Residential Settings for People with Disabilities, which relate to adult services, have been published by HIQA. Following a public consultation process initiated by HIQA, these standards were formulated by a standards advisory group which comprised officials from HIQA, the Department, the HSE, service providers, organisations representing people with disabilities and service users. These standards will provide a national framework for quality, safe services for persons with disabilities in a residential setting.
In light of the current economic situation, the move to full statutory implementation of the standards, including regulation and inspection, presents significant challenges at this time. However, notwithstanding the difficulties of immediate statutory implementation, the Department, the HSE and HIQA have agreed that progressive non-statutory implementation of the standards will now commence and that they will become the benchmark against which the HSE assesses both its own directly-operated facilities and other facilities that it funds. Discussions are ongoing regarding the development of self-assessment tools, providing awareness training for service providers and the introduction of an appropriate level of external validation for relevant settings.
A number of preliminary processes are already in place within the HSE to facilitate this work. For example, compliance with the HIQA standards is included in the service level agreements being implemented between the HSE and service providers. As part of the ongoing review of service level agreements, service providers will now be required to demonstrate compliance with the standards through the provision of audit outcomes. I am informed by the HSE that the majority of service providers have already commenced a review of their services within the context of the HIQA standards. Many service providers have also achieved external accreditation over the past number of years.
I am assured by the HSE that it has a robust system in place to deal with any complaints made in respect of the treatment of persons with disabilities in residential care. This includes ensuring that all HSE-funded service providers of residential care have appropriate complaints procedures that are in line with HSE policy.
The Minister of State will acknowledge that there are 8,000 adults and 400 children in institutions of care and that there are no independent inspectors. Hundreds of complaints have been made about these institutions in the past two years. These complaints relate to issues from poor accommodation to allegations of abuse or neglect. Last year, the Ryan report illustrated the extent of the abuse that took place in industrial schools in the past This week, "Primetime" reminded us of the dreadful living conditions and absence of therapeutic treatments in State psychiatric hospitals and institutions.
I know the Minister of State accepts that we must protect the disabled from abuse. I put it to him, however, that the €5 million that could have been saved by applying the full 5% pay cut to senior civil servants would pay for this inspectorate to be put in place by the end of the year. I am seeking from him a commitment to the effect that he will find the money to allow this to happen. We are discussing the most vulnerable people in our society and they must be protected.
I support the comments made by Deputy Reilly. More than 500 complaints have been made in the past two and a half years. There is a need to shine a light on these institutions. The Joint Committee on Health and Children, of which some of those present are members, must visit these facilities and members of the public must make constant visits to their relatives and friends within them. Unfortunately for many of those who live in these institutions, no one visits them or sees what is happening.
They do not have anyone to speak for them.
What is planned is welcome but it must be put in place sooner rather than later. As public representatives, we have a duty to visit the institutions to which I refer.
Deputy Jan O'Sullivan referred to the 500 complaints that have been made in the past two and a half years. The reality is that the people living in these institutions are often voiceless and are not in a position to make such complaints, which underlines the need to put in place an inspection regime.
I do not want to offer excuses in respect of this extremely important issue. Last year, Inclusion Ireland complained that we were not carrying out inspections in respect of children. The position in this regard has changed and such inspections will be forthcoming before the end of this year. I wish I could say when all of these matters will be dealt with. The report is imminent and I am committed to securing the funding to provide for an inspectorate.
I take the point made by the Deputies in respect of the many people who live in institutions of this nature. While I accept that 500 is a large number of complaints — I do not wish to reduce the import of what was said by Members opposite in this regard — many of those complaints could easily have been dealt with if the inspectorate were in place.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
