Mattie McGrath Questions Reopening Delay and Nursing Home Deaths
Mattie McGrath questioned the minister about abandoning the planned 22 October reopening and extending restrictions for a further three months. He demanded answers on consultation with associations and public organisations, raised concerns about waiting lists and a reported £3.884 billion health allocation for 2020, queried the closure of St Bridges Hospital in Callaghan-Shure, and called for an international, independent inquiry into Covid transfers to nursing homes.
Questions on reopening timetable
Where did the initial date of 22 October for reopening for everything come from, where did it go, and why are we extending for further three months - McGrath asked the minister for a clear explanation of the change in schedule.
Consultation with organisations
He asked whether the rest of the association and the public organisations were consulted about this extension, referencing bodies named in the speech such as Garda and Shekhana and pressing for transparency on who was engaged.
Health funding and waiting lists
McGrath highlighted waiting lists and recalled the figure of £3.884 billion extra put into the health service in 2020, noting that the allocation referenced was for 2020 rather than 2021 and pressing on the impact of resources on service delivery.
St Bridges Hospital closure questioned
He raised the closure of St Bridges Hospital in Callaghan-Shure, asking why it was closed "in the middle of the so-called pandemic" when it was reportedly fit for people at that time, and why it remains closed now.
Call for independent nursing home inquiry
McGrath demanded an international inquiry, totally independent of Ireland, into how people sent to nursing homes with Covid came to die there and what happened inside. He also asked whether the minister would meet the INFTO and nurses who say they want to tell their stories about suppression, bullying and intimidation and reveal the "real story" inside the nursing homes.
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I want to ask you whether the rest of the association and the public organisations consulted about this extension. We are in Garda, Shekhana consulted. Where did the initial date of 22 October for reopening for everything come from, where did it go, and why are we extending for further three months? Minister, we see the waiting lists. We see the £3.884 billion extra put into the health service alone in 2020, not 2021. I too want to know why you closed St Bridges Hospital in Callaghan-Shure in the middle of the so-called pandemic and when it was fit for people at that time, why is it not now? I also want to demand and ask for an international inquiry, totally independent of Ireland, as to how people sent to their nursing homes with Covid, and so many died there, and what went on, and will you meet the INFTO, the nurses people now, who want to tell their stories about suppression, bullying and intimidation, and the real story that went on inside the nursing homes. Thank you. Thank you.
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