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Louth TD Fergus O'Dowd said he wants accountability for what happened in Irish nursing homes. Oireachtas.ie

'Old age matters': TD calls for public inquiry into nursing home deaths during Covid

Many people who died in nursing homes were not properly looked after, TD Fergus O’Dowd told the Dáil.

A FULL INQUIRY into the care of older people in nursing homes during the pandemic should take place, according to Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd. 

Speaking in a debate on the recent easing of Covid-19 restrictions, the Louth TD told the Dáil that his brother-in-law passed away of Covid in a nursing home a year ago this week. 

While his family member was “very well” looked after, many other older people in nursing homes around the country were not, he said. 

“Some weren’t looked after well at all and that is why we need an inquiry, a full and complete inquiry,” he said. 

“Age counts and old age matters, and people who were dying in nursing homes were not properly looked after,” said O’Dowd.

The TD raised the case of Dealgan House in Dundalk town which provides 24-hour nursing care to around 80 adult residents. 

A report in October 2020 found that there were staffing and Covid training issues at the Louth nursing home where over 20 patients died in April 2020. 

The inspection report carried out by the the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) highlighted several concerns about the standards and regulations adhered to at the nursing home. 

Speaking in the Dáil today, O’Dowd said that in relation to this particular home, “it is clear to me and the families concerned that the Department [of Health] is avoiding a decision in relation to this”. 

While he welcomed that the Taoiseach said last week that the department were looking at all options, he urged the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to engage immediately with the families so as “to bring closure” as well as transparency and accountability. 

O’Dowd said he wants accountability for what happened in Ireland’s nursing homes.

“Families of these people that passed in these homes are interested in accountability and they demand it,” he said. 

“If there were 22 or 23 children who died in this home… would there not be a public inquiry? 

“Would there not be protest marches? Would there not be ructions in the Dáil over it – age counts and old age matters and people who were dying in nursing homes were not properly looked after,” he said. 

Proper and appropriate guidance in terms of medical procedure and proper care should be what is learned from the pandemic.

“If that comes out of this appalling disaster of Covid, then that would be an important change,” he said.

The Special Committee on Covid-19 Response said in its final report in October 2020 that the public health authorities were overly focussed on preparing acute hospitals for the oncoming pandemic in February and March 2020 and failed to recognise the level of risk posed to residents of nursing homes.

The report also found that there was a delay in reacting to the situation in nursing homes as well as a failure to provide answers to the relatives of the deceased. 

It recommended that a public inquiry be set up to investigate all circumstances surrounding each individual death due to Covid-19 in nursing homes.

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    Mute mart_n
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    Sep 10th 2012, 9:34 PM

    What a load of bollix. ‘Al Qaeda’s Second in command’ killed.. what does that even mean? I’m pretty sure the second in command has been killed a few times already. Right on the anniversary of the big day too… A lot of people must not have closed their eyes on 9/11, because their wishes for a better world aren’t coming true.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 10th 2012, 10:02 PM

    Well I chose to believe he is Al Qaeda and I’m happy for him, that he has been granted his most fervent of holiest of desires. He has gone to meet his maker.

    It’s just a pity that with this one gone there are a dozen more to take his place.

    BTW I’m not saying who is right or who is wrong. I have not studied this unholy mess enough to be able to declare any sort of definitive statement.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Sep 10th 2012, 10:24 PM

    Mart, can I ask you an honest question? If you’re running a business and one of your managers leave, are you going to replace him/her? Of course you are. The second in command has been killed a few times because they’ve killed a few across the globe and all were different individuals. They did kill the top, Bin Laden, in Pakistan so obviously they’re capable of promoting people.

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    Mute Aidan Geraghty
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    Sep 10th 2012, 10:45 PM

    But i see Mart’s point….

    But like, Al Queda are a bunch out of control nut cases so is there really a ‘second in command’ ? it’s silly talk.

    I’d have more faith in the announcement if they said ‘one of the biggest headers in Al Queda was bursted’

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:03 PM

    Well technically lads this is the No 2 in Yemen. I’m sure they have more no 2′s in other national branches like afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq , Sudan etc.

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    Mute Michael Tuohy
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:05 PM

    It means the 2nd in command was killed! luder

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    Mute Adrian Nolan
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:06 PM

    I reckon they should just target the nasty human resources manager who keeps filling the top vacancy’s and be done with it.

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    Mute Martin
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:59 PM

    How can u have a second in command for organization that doesn’t excist except on database in the pentagon. Its ridiculous to say that there is any structure to islamic fundementalists its a patsy organisation.

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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Sep 11th 2012, 2:30 AM

    Al queda are a peacefull organisation. Its full of holymen and dogooders. Where did they get misunderstood along the way?

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    Mute Martin
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    Sep 11th 2012, 9:06 AM

    It’s a phantom group created by the Americans in the 1980′s and used to keep a neverending war on terror going. For god sake the Bushes and the Bin-Laden families were in bussiness to-gether in a Oil company called Arbusco in the 80′s and 90′s.

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    Mute Martin
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    Sep 11th 2012, 9:16 AM

    Please ignore misplaced hyphen above…thanks!

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    Mute Éamonn Tiernan
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    Sep 10th 2012, 9:16 PM

    Is Chandler alright?!?

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    Mute Paul Breen
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    Sep 11th 2012, 11:13 AM

    Yes, this happened nowhere near Yemen Road.

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    Mute alan
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:04 PM

    the real issue here isnt whether or they are killing the first second or third or hundreth in command. the real issue is the number of people being killed in afghanistan and iraq every day. the killing there, on both sides, continues unabated. so much for the success of the invasions

    and it is amazing the way that the americans won’t admit to al q not being a traditional military force. they surely cannot believe that headline grabbers like this will distract from a serious analysis of what al q actually areand how they operate?

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    Mute Stewie Griffin
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:54 PM

    your right alan. but i cant fault the usa in going to war in Afghanistan it had to happen really and could have been avoided by the Taliban and in a way it was good that the americans went in. Of course there are alot being killed. but its it more or less then if the Taliban (murders) were left in power. shooting woman and little girls for rumours ??

    Iraq thats different story that was completely wrong and i believe for this g.w.bush and tony blair should be held to account for the implosion of iraq and the descent into chaos . they expected a clean war like the first gulf war but like churchill said when you go to war you go into a world that unpredictable and you cannot control the outcome of events.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Sep 11th 2012, 1:43 AM

    Alan, you do realize that yemini troops killed this guy. Have you ask the govt of yemen why they are going after al Qaeda? Is because they pose a risk in Yemen?

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    Mute Edward Carr
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    Sep 10th 2012, 10:53 PM

    I’m sure he was al qaeda but really every few weeks the second in command is killed they must be pumping them out on the factory line by the 100s

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    Mute Stewie Griffin
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:02 PM

    true but your getting rid of the experienced guys at the top bit by bit that fought the soviets and organised the big terror events. Losing that experience is what matters, can always replace but what are you replacing with if you get me

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    Mute Little Jim
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:22 PM

    Rehabilitation programme in Saudi Arabia?
    Well that didn’t work.
    The man must have had serious connections.

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    Mute JP SHERRY
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    Sep 11th 2012, 12:40 AM

    Trial by bullet

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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Sep 11th 2012, 2:33 AM

    I don’t believe a word of it. Bin laden was such a friendly looming chap.

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