Mattie McGrath Demands Inquiry into Nursing Home Failures
Mattie McGrath addressed the Dáil on 27 May 2020, criticising remote sittings and the government's handling of COVID-19 measures and demanding accountability. He pressed for an inquiry into nursing home failures, raised concerns about delayed surgeries and private hospital use, cited oxygen shortages and bed occupancy figures, and urged evidence and support for small businesses and peacekeepers.
Parliamentary procedure and remote sittings
McGrath described the arrangements as "shambolic", objecting to speaking to an empty chair while ministers and the Taoiseach sit elsewhere. He criticised votes at the Business Committee that allowed the Taoiseach and government to continue without direct scrutiny and said there is evidence being hidden.
Peacekeepers and return date
He told the house that Irish peacekeepers were still deployed abroad and said they had been given a return date of 29th June for "the 300 gallant men and women" and their families, urging that the date be honoured and no further excuses be made.
Nursing homes and medical accountability
McGrath urged an inquiry into a nursing home case he raised previously, saying doctors who resigned from the Medical Council had better knowledge of events and calling what happened "nothing short of national sabotage." He said oxygen tanks had been returned empty or near-empty and that some patients were left without oxygen.
Private hospitals and postponed surgeries
He read a constituent letter about a 66-year-old woman whose urgent stage 3 prolapse surgery was delayed until July or September, warning the delay would require more extensive surgery later. He quoted bed occupancy figures for a Cork hospital on April 24, April 24, April 28 and May 7 as 30, 36, 89 and 103 respectively and argued roughly 200 beds remained unused while private hospital capacity (102) showed low weekly occupancies.
Economic impact and calls for evidence
McGrath warned of a "con element" in the response that he said favoured big businesses while small shopkeepers, taxi drivers and small employers suffer. He criticised COVID payment levels for many, questioned inconsistent two-metre rules, and demanded scientific evidence, minutes of meetings and parliamentary accountability rather than ministers operating from another building.
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Teachta, I spoke to you last week in the Dáil and at the outset I want to say that this is shambolic to be speaking to your chair, empty seat and you're in some other part of the building. We had this debate at the Business Committee yesterday, we had it today, we called a vote on it but unfortunately people that were objecting to it decided to vote with you and the government to have you carry on with your nonsense. There's clear evidence that being two hours in this massive chamber, that is evidence there scientific and medical that you're only hiding. But there is no place to hide and there won't be any place to hide for you Taoiseach when the real truth about this is all found out. I asked you last week Taoiseach about our peacekeepers, they're still out there, they have got a date thankfully on 29th June for their return, the 300 gallant men and women and their family suffering at home. I hope that date is honoured, that there won't be another shambolic excuse. I also said to you about the nursing home teacher last week, what happened there and we have different medical doctors on since who resigned from the Medical Council and elsewhere who have better knowledge of this than I do. Nothing short of national sabotage what happened there and I hope that there will be an inquiry into what happened and people will be held accountable. The fact that oxygen tanks I mentioned last week had to be given back when they got one. The fact that empty ones had to be taken away or near empty ones and people left without oxygen. Just think about it. Just left without oxygen. Shocker. What happened there are young people, are over 70s, but it's a cohort of the 66s, over 66 people, who are working in many and sustaining many families and sustaining many communities and they're not getting a bob in payment. I mentioned a bit about the COVID payment. Yes, I argued at the time that they gave us a relevant pro rata of what people earned for the month beforehand, four weeks, but no, that couldn't be done. We wouldn't have the problems that we have now and I don't agree with what the left are saying here that we're trying to be mean with people. We're not. They're not getting enough many people, but for people who are getting 100 or maybe 80 to be getting 350 is clearly unsustainable. The mental health, teacher, of our children, of our young people, of our old people, it's just shocking. And the whole two metre distance, I know of a very close relative of mine who visited a hospital in Cork last week and sat at one metre distance in a huge queue in a waiting room. So, I mean, who's cutting who? The world's health, as we say so much about. Teacher, I want to ask you about the carry-on with the private hospitals. I have a letter here and it's so sad from a woman who gives me permission to use her sister's details. For the last 45 years, my sister, she says this in a letter to me, has paid for private health insurance to cover all our hospital stays. She has never asked this general taxpayer to pay for any of our medical treatment. She is now 66 of age and needs urgent surgery for a stage 3 prolapse, which could go to emergency stage 4 at any time. Her consultant has clearly stated he cannot operate on her until July at the earliest or even into September. Each day that the surgery is delayed means that further damage is happening inside her body. Therefore, in order to repair the damage, she will require much more extensive surgery at the end of the time. There are many, many thousands of people like that. It's totally unfair. And she supplied me with figures. And the figures are, and I thank her for this, from April 24th, April 24th, April 24th, April 28th, and May 7th. And the numbers of beds in the hospital in Cork were bed occupancy. The bond secures 300 beds, 30, 36, 89, 103. So there's 200 beds at all times. Empty. Shocking. Demand are private, 102 capacity. Six, one week, 25, 37, 23. It's an absolute shame. We had to take over the private hospital. Yes, and I supported it. But for how long? When are we going to give them back and allow people? Surgery of all kinds. There's no cervical cancer smears taking place. There's no tests of any case. There's many, many serious diagnoses who will require treatments and everything else. So, Taoiseach, I said to you last week that there was a con element, and a large con element in this. I'm still saying it. I'm glad to see in Spain today, where lawyers are challenging the government and the unelected officials who are wielding all the power here, to prove the evidence. Give us the evidence. We can't get minutes of meetings. Give us the evidence. Scientific evidence. They won't give it. And they'll be called into account. And I hope they'll be called into account here too. Because I believe big businesses flourishing. They can all open. But the small businessmen, the Dini Bugha, the ordinary people, the shopkeepers, the taxi drivers, all the small people. And what is going on? They want to wipe all these out and let the big companies flourish, let them trade, and they might be selling a bit of homeware, and let them trade and everything else. And let the ordinary businessmen, small businesses who are supplying from 1 to 10 people, from 1 to 50 people, they need support. So there is a con element going on here. And the sooner we realise it, and the sooner people stand up and question it, and the sooner we have accountability in this parliament, not ministers fleeing to some other building and can't even face us here. I hate talking to face those people. I talk to get answers. I'm elected by the people of the privilege from AAA to get answers, and we're not getting answers, and I want answers. I don't know what's going on, Deputy Freehan. You're here, yes, but I'm not talking to you. I know you're here, and you're welcome, and congratulate you for getting elected. It's more about you, but I want answers with the Taoiseach, not hiding. We see plenty pictures of them sunbathing in the park and elsewhere. We don't want to see them. It's their own business. Keep them private. We don't want to see them. Thank you very much.
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